By Dave Lord

A LOCAL MP has welcomed multi-million pound moves which should alleviate problems associated with the lack of NHS dental services throughout Perth and Kinross.

Ochil and South Perthshire representative Gordon Banks said numerous constituents had expressed concerns regarding the difficulty of accessing dental care.

However, he hopes the imminent construction of a new £5.6 million “treat and teach” centre in Perth may help to address the crisis.

Thousands of local residents have struggled to secure NHS treatment in recent years—many having no option but to turn to the far more expensive private sector.

Others have preferred to forgo oral care because of the prohibitive nature of the costs involved.

“The lack of dental services in the area has been an issue which many constituents in South Perthshire have raised with me,” Mr Banks said.

“I contact members of the Perth and Kinross Community Partnership on a regular basis to ensure that I can inform my constituents better on an issue which is really affecting their lives.”

Mr Banks said he was delighted to finally receive some good news.

“Two additional dentists have been employed by NHS Tayside and will be based in Dundee and Angus,” he said.

“Currently the health board are advertising a further three dental positions and it is envisaged that one of those will be allocated to Perth after selection.”

And with the new centre to be built over the next year, Mr Banks hopes the crisis will soon end.

“There is a mobile unit currently parked at Drumhar Health Centre which is seeing on average 24 patients per week with the elderly being given priority,” the MP continued.

“NHS Tayside is also about to enter into a tender process for the new ‘Treat and Teach’ at Broxden, Perth.

“Construction is expected to take around 15 months but I am confident that this new facility will alleviate some of the stress which the current system is under.”

The new centre will aim to improve access to dental services for those throughout Perth and Kinross while also offering a range of outreach and vocational training programmes.

It should also ensure high calibre dental professionals are attracted to—and remain in—Perth and Kinross.