Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
SNP Scottish Parliament candidate for Banff & Buchan Stewart Stevenson , has highlighted the issue of the lack of access to NHS dental services as one of the most frequently raised issues during the current election campaign and one of huge concern throughout Banff & Buchan.
The Banff & Buchan SNP candidate said:
“At my surgeries as an MSP, and now on the doorsteps of Banff & Buchan during this election campaign, many people have complained that they have not been able to see a dentist for years now. This is a matter that I have frequently raised with NHS Grampian and in Parliament with Health Ministers.
“Those dentists in the area currently providing an NHS service do a fantastic job, but they simply cannot cope with the numbers who wish to have NHS treatment and they have to draw a line somewhere.
”There has to be much greater attention and focus on the detail to bringing key personnel to the area, and in particular at Scottish Governmental level, more vocational training posts to bring new dentist into the NHS.
”There has to be much greater flexibility given to attracting people to the North-east from outwith the area in order to provide such key services, and in particular, faster recognition of foreign qualifications – as those with skills such as dental technicians and hygienists are far too often snarled up in bureaucracy rather than starting working under the NHS.
“I am determined that practical solutions should be found for this problem which has been raised by a great many people and I am determined, should I be re-elected on May 3rd, to do every thing possible with my colleagues at central government level, to tackle this long standing problem more coherently so that people can get a dentist when they need one.”
