Crisis in NHS Dentistry
- Submitted by: Willie Rennie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats.
- Date lodged: Monday, 19 February 2024
- Motion reference: S6M-12215
- Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, 21 February 2024
Motions as amended
That the Parliament recognises the significant challenges in dental services, compounded by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, high inflation, and Brexit on public services, dentistry and the available dental workforce across the UK; welcomes that the Scottish Government has confirmed the sustainment and improvement of access to NHS dentistry as a strategic priority; acknowledges that payment reform, as introduced on 1 November 2023, is the most significant change to NHS dentistry since its inception and the most meaningful intervention to realise the Scottish Government’s ambition at this time; recognises that payment reform correctly prioritises public resources on securing access to NHS dentistry by incentivising delivery of NHS care through improved fees; is confident that the changes are the appropriate basis for further reforms to NHS dentistry, which will be focused on improvements in workforce and access to services across Scotland; thanks NHS dentists and all staff working across Scotland for their continued commitment to the sector and provision of a vital service to the people of Scotland, and recognises that the world-leading Childsmile programme, which was implemented by the last Scottish Labour Party-led administration in 2006, has been widely recognised as one of the most effective public health interventions of the devolved era and has transformed child dental health.
Vote
Result 84 for, 32 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote Vote Passed
Scottish National Party
- 55 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 8 did not vote
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For
- Alasdair Allan
- Angela Constance
- Angus Robertson
- Annabelle Ewing
- Audrey Nicoll
- Bill Kidd
- Bob Doris
- Christina McKelvie
- Clare Adamson
- Clare Haughey
- Colin Beattie
- Collette Stevenson
- David Torrance
- Elena Whitham
- Emma Harper
- Emma Roddick
- Evelyn Tweed
- Fergus Ewing
- Fiona Hyslop
- Fulton MacGregor
- George Adam
- Gillian Martin
- Gordon MacDonald
- Graeme Dey
- Jackie Dunbar
- James Dornan
- Jamie Hepburn
- Jenni Minto
- Jim Fairlie
- Joe FitzPatrick
- John Mason
- John Swinney
- Karen Adam
- Kate Forbes
- Kaukab Stewart
- Keith Brown
- Kenneth Gibson
- Kevin Stewart
- Mairi Gougeon
- Maree Todd
- Marie McNair
- Michelle Thomson
- Natalie Don
- Neil Gray
- Nicola Sturgeon
- Paul McLennan
- Richard Lochhead
- Rona Mackay
- Ruth Maguire
- Shirley-Anne Somerville
- Siobhian Brown
- Stephanie Callaghan
- Stuart McMillan
- Tom Arthur
- Willie Coffey
Against
0Abstained
0Did not vote
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- 0 for
- 31 against
- 0 abstained
- 0 did not vote
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For
0Against
- Alexander Burnett
- Alexander Stewart
- Annie Wells
- Brian Whittle
- Craig Hoy
- Douglas Lumsden
- Douglas Ross
- Dr. Sandesh Gulhane
- Edward Mountain
- Finlay Carson
- Graham Simpson
- Jackson Carlaw
- Jamie Greene
- Jamie Halcro Johnston
- Jeremy Balfour
- Liam Kerr
- Liz Smith
- Maurice Golden
- Meghan Gallacher
- Miles Briggs
- Murdo Fraser
- Oliver Mundell
- Pam Gosal
- Rachael Hamilton
- Roz McCall
- Russell Findlay
- Sharon Dowey
- Stephen Kerr
- Sue Webber
- Tess White
- Tim Eagle
Abstained
0Did not vote
0Scottish Labour
- 17 for
- 1 against
- 0 abstained
- 4 did not vote
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For
- Alex Rowley
- Carol Mochan
- Claire Baker
- Colin Smyth
- Daniel Johnson
- Foysol Choudhury
- Mark Griffin
- Martin Whitfield
- Michael Marra
- Monica Lennon
- Neil Bibby
- Paul O'Kane
- Paul Sweeney
- Pauline McNeill
- Rhoda Grant
- Richard Leonard
- Sarah Boyack
Against
Abstained
0Did not vote
Scottish Green Party
- 7 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 0 did not vote
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For
Against
0Abstained
0Did not vote
0Scottish Liberal Democrats
- 4 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 0 did not vote
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For
Against
0Abstained
0Did not vote
0Alba Party
- 1 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 0 did not vote
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No Party Affiliation
- 0 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 1 did not vote
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Original motion text
That the Parliament believes that there is a crisis in NHS dentistry; considers that it is deeply concerning that people are finding it increasingly difficult to see an NHS dentist locally, if at all, and in some cases are resorting to DIY dentistry; notes concerns that changes to the payment system, which came into force on 1 November 2023, will do little to stop the exodus of NHS dentists; recalls that the Scottish Government committed in 2021 to abolishing all dentistry charges by the end of the current parliamentary session, but that charges for NHS patients have since increased substantially and been expanded to cover emergency appointments and denture repairs; believes that there must be decisive action to resolve this crisis, and calls, therefore, on the Scottish Government to rewrite the failing NHS Recovery Plan to prioritise workforce planning, boost the number of dentists taking on NHS patients and increase the number of appointments available.
Accepted amendments
Crisis in NHS Dentistry - Amendment - Amendment
Submitted by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date lodged: Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Supported by: Carol Mochan
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Result 85 for, 31 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote Vote Passed
Crisis in NHS Dentistry - Amendment - Amendment
Submitted by: Neil Gray, Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party, Date lodged: Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Supported by: Jenni Minto, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Result 63 for, 53 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote Vote Passed
Amendments that have not been voted on
Crisis in NHS Dentistry - Amendment - Amendment
Submitted by: Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date lodged: Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Wednesday, February 21, 2024