"A DENTIST FOR EVERYONE IN NORTH EAST FIFE" says Iain Smith

10.38.12am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 5th Apr 2007

"A DENTIST FOR EVERYONE IN NORTH EAST FIFE"

• SAYS IAIN SMITH

The Scottish Liberal Democrats today announced a new £40 million plan to ensure everyone in Scotland has access to a NHS dentist. In addition to launching this key manifesto pledge, the Liberal Democrat have announced a new dental action plan to deliver 200 more dentists, a new Dental School and more dental check ups in schools.

After this announcement local Lib Dem candidate Iain Smith said:

"Scottish Liberal Democrats have already introduced free dental checks across Scotland, but in areas such as North East Fife finding a NHS dentist can be really difficult.

"That is why we will launch a new recruitment drive to bring in an additional 200 dentists to Scotland to work primarily as salaried NHS dentists. We will prioritise areas of the country, like North East Fife where access to NHS dentists is most difficult.

"These 200 additional dentists will come on top of more than 100 new dentists expected to enter the NHS next year from the existing dental schools.

"Some estimates suggest that a third of children in Scotland do not have an NHS dentist. This has got to be tackled.

"We will also ensure that dentists do check ups in our local schools.

"Improving oral health in children is the sort of preventative measure that will reduce the burden on the NHS in the future. This is spending now to save in the future.

"The Liberal Democrats will establish a new Dental School to give a much needed boost to the numbers of new dentists entering the workforce.

"The Scottish Liberal Democrats will invest over the next four years in new dentists that people across North East Fife need."

Ends

notes to editors

Dental Action Plan:

• Directly recruiting an extra 200 more dentists to work in the NHS in Scotland.

• Establish an Aberdeen Dental School to continue to increase the supply of dentists being trained and working in Scotland

• Getting dentists into local schools in deprived areas to do check ups