LOCAL MSP RAISES AYRSHIRE DENTISTRY IN SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT DEBATE

Scottish Labour MSP Carol Mochan is calling for urgent action to ensure everyone in Ayrshire and Arran can access NHS dentistry as new figures reveal stark inequalities.

Figures from Public Health Scotland for the quarter ending in June 2025 revealed that, in Ayrshire and Arran, 59.3 per cent of registered patients in the most deprived areas had contact with an NHS dentist in the past two years. This compares with 73.2 per cent of patients living in some of the least deprived areas.

Ms Mochan also used a local surgery in Mauchline to highlight the sheer volume of people struggling to access an NHS dentist, as earlier this year the Mauchline surgery reported an NHS patient waiting list of 1,000 people.

The local MSP called for leadership from the Scottish Government and discussed the role of dentistry in furthering Scotland’s health prevention agenda, arguing that good oral health plays a crucial role in preventing systemic health conditions.

Scottish Labour MSP Carol Mochan said: “The debate in Parliament sought to highlight the difficulties people have in accessing an NHS dentist.

“Access is a problem for so many. People aren’t receiving regular check-ups, and there is a consensus that it has become harder to register with and access an NHS dentist.

“The SNP Government has not done enough to support our dentists and protect the ease of access for our constituents.

“In the current system, patients are unable to access NHS care. Dentists are in short supply, which means that practices have vacancies they cannot fill.

“The lack of trained dentists means there are fewer willing to treat NHS patients, forcing people to go private and pay for treatment.

“The current dentistry model is not fit for purpose, and we must act with urgency to address this and ensure dentistry is accessible for all.

“Equal access must be part of our plan. Good oral health must be seen as integral to overall health and wellbeing.”