Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 October 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase dentist capacity in the South Scotland region.
We have recently updated the Recruitment and Retention Allowance payments to independent dental contractors providing NHS General Dental Services.
This means that newly qualified dentists that have completed their vocational training and are applying to join the dental list for the first time may qualify for a payment of £25,000 over a two-year period.
We have also extended the allowance to include vocational trainees who may qualify for a payment of £12,500 payable over a one-year period.
The qualifying areas to obtain this allowance includes certain areas within NHS Borders and all of NHS Dumfries and Galloway.