South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has once again called for urgent action from the Scottish Government after it was announced that thousands of patients are set to be de-registered from NHS dental services in Dumfries.

Following the retirement of a dentist, Blue Door Dental Practice has written to patients informing them of the plans.

The practice said about 3,400 adult NHS patients will be de-registered as of May 2024.

The local NHS has confirmed there are no dentists in the region accepting new NHS registrations, meaning patients will either have to look out with the region, or go private.

Colin Smyth said: “This is yet more shocking news about our dental service. It seems that one dental practice after another is axing or reducing NHS services at the moment, and the Scottish Government are like rabbits caught in the headlights.

“NHS dentistry in Dumfries and Galloway has been, and remains, in crisis. The time for warm words is over, we need action.

“More patients in Dumfries will now have to join many others across the region in either having to pay for private care or try to find another dentist that provides NHS care out with the region. It is effectively the privatisation of NHS care in Dumfries and Galloway, which is completely unacceptable.

“I am really angry that the Scottish Government have failed to wake up to the growing dental crisis.

“The double whammy of the UK Government’s Brexit, which has meant there are almost no EU dentists coming to the UK anymore, and more significantly, the Scottish Government’s failure to properly fund dentists means this isn’t the first practice to remove NHS services and it certainly won’t be the last. I expect many others to follow.

“Both Governments have been warned over and over that this would happen but they have completely ignored those warnings.

“Unless both governments face up to this crisis in our area, it is only a matter of time before no adult in our region has NHS dental care.”