South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has commented on the news that in the past two years, 25,000 people have lost access to NHS dentistry in the region as more and more dentists have been forced to move to payment only plans.

The figures were mentioned during a recent health board meeting.

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said: “These figures are really shocking but sadly, for most people, they won’t be a surprise.

“For years, Dumfries and Galloway’s dentists have been let down by the Scottish Government.

“More and more local dentists are deregistering NHS patients and the very future of NHS dental care in the region is now hanging by a thread.

“The double whammy of the UK Government’s Brexit, which has meant there are almost no EU dentists coming to the UK and the Scottish Government’s failure to properly fund dentists means I fully expect more dental practices to follow.

“Both Governments have been warned this would happen but have failed to take adequate action. Unless they wake up to the crisis, I fear no adult in our area will have an NHS dentist.

“The payment reform plans were meant to help but according to the British Dental Association, they fall far short of the mark and risk forcing more and more dentists into the arms of private practice.

“The very existence of NHS dentistry is in doubt and the government must listen to dentists and implement proper pay reform before access to dentistry becomes even worse.”