Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has tackled the Scottish Executive over its draft healthcare budget. One of its objectives for the coming financial year is that access will be available to “a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional within 48 hours”. However, an exception has been made for dental services.
Mr Stevenson – who has been campaigning for additional resources to improve dental service provision in the North-east – questioned Deputy Health Minister Tom McCabe on this at Question Time.
Mr Stevenson commented afterwards:
“The situation regarding dental provision in the North-east remains deeply concerning to the many people who have found themselves, through no fault of their own, unable to access dental treatment in their own area.
“I was disappointed that the Minister chose to hide behind the current consultation on modernising NHS dental services, which ends this week, instead of giving a commitment to urgently address the current problems in the North-east.
“While I welcome the £1.5 million the Health Department has allocated towards training in dental practices, in truth we need a more concerted effort to encourage dentists to set up practice in those areas so badly affected by lack of dental service provision.”
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
