News / NHS plans six new dentists
LENGTHY waiting times to see a dentist in Shetland could be slashed after NHS Shetland agreed plans to increase the number of dentists by more than half on Tuesday.
The health board hopes to recruit six new dentists to work at the Montfield dental unit in Lerwick, where the delays are most acute.
The £534,000 plan would mean a huge expansion of the service in the isles, where currently the NHS currently employs 7.8 full time equivalent dentists and one full time hygienist. These are supported by four locum dentists and three dentists working at a private practice.
Chief administrative dental officer Mike Collins said he hoped the new recruits could combine NHS and private work. He said that it would prove easier to find independent dentists to work in Shetland, where there have been problems recruiting in the past.
Mr Collins said that Shetland needed around 15 dentists to cover the level of work in the isles.
There are around 1,700 people on the waiting list to register for a dentist in Lerwick.
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