EAST LOTHIAN & MIDLOTHIAN SMILING AS NHS DENTIST REGISTRATIONS INCREASE AGAIN

SNP MSP Colin Beattie has welcomed the latest figures that have shown NHS dentist registrations on the rise once again – with 785,433 people now registered across NHS Lothian and over 5 million registered across the country.
 
The national figure has nearly doubled since the SNP came to power in 2007 – after the previous Labour/Lib Dem administration oversaw a decline in registrations from just over 2.7 million in 2000 to just over 2.5 million in 2007, including over 40,000 fewer children registered.
 
The percentage of adults registered with a dentist in the Lothians has gone up from 87% to 89% during the last year, while the number of children registered has also risen, from 89% to 90%.
 
Commenting, SNP MSP Colin Beattie said:
 
“The latest dental registration statistics show the continued progress the SNP Scottish Government is making in improving oral health in East Lothian, Midlothian and across Scotland.
 
“Since the SNP came to power in 2007, the number of people registered with a dentist has nearly doubled across Scotland, sitting at over 5 million, following years of decline under Labour and the Lib Dems.
 
“And with nearly 1 million children now registered with an NHS dentist, it is clear that we are building the right attitudes to improve oral health for the next generation as well.
 
“People across the NHS Lothian area are benefitting from this improvement, with 785,433 people now registered with a dentist, including 149,578 children.
 
“The new oral health improvement plan will show how we intend to keep this good work going, and ensure that people are not only registering with a dentist, but also getting regular check-ups.
 
“Our oral health is vital for our wider health and wellbeing – and it is great to see people taking steps to ensure that they are able to access an NHS dentist in communities across East Lothian, Midlothian and throughout Scotland.”