Questions as Sarwar ‘backs plans to cut NHS Scotland dental services’, reports The National
Newspaper cites Scottish Dental's report of Vermillion's Biennial Symposium.
Anas Sarwar speaking at Vermillion's Biennial Symposium last year
The Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, is “under pressure to explain whether he supports cutting NHS Scotland dentistry so that it no longer provides services such as crowns and braces”, according to a report in The National newspaper.
In a news story, the paper said that the SNP had raised concerns over a report in Scottish Dental magazine last December which detailed last year’s Vermilion Biennial Symposium.
“The magazine reported that Dr David Offord had advocated for NHS Scotland to stop providing treatments such as orthodontics, veneers, bridges and crowns,” writes Xander Elliards, the paper’s Political Editor.
“Instead, Offord said, the NHS could focus on preventative care while private practices handle those services.”
Scottish Dental quoted Dr Offord as saying: “It’s about saying as a country we can no longer afford for patients to have the full ‘a la Carte’ on the NHS.
“Crucially, public funds that are currently being spent on crowns, bridges and so on should be redirected into preventative care.”
It added that that Sarwar “wholeheartedly agreed” with Dr Offord that there should be a shift towards preventative care.
Elliard writes: “The SNP said that the Scottish Labour leader needs to explain whether that means that he supports NHS Scotland providing services such as crowns and children’s braces.”
The paper said that Scottish Labour had not responded “to a request for clarity on Sarwar’s position.”