A CLYDEBANK dentist has said he is no longer accepting new NHS patients because he can’t afford to as new figures reveal around three out of four NHS dentists locally are doing the same.

An investigation by the BBC revealed 71 per cent of the 14 dental practices contacted that provide NHS contracts in West Dunbartonshire said they would not take on new health service patients.

In March, the Post reported that Stuart McGrow of DB Dental Care on Kilbowie Road, warned that the NHS contract between the Scottish Government and oral physicians was “outdated”.

Speaking again to the Post this week, Mr McGrow said he was “fuming” at the situation he faces because of the government.

He said: “Everything I said back in March was absolutely on the money.

“I’ve been forced over the last two years, with no financial support at all, to basically work to the old system, the old system that nobody wants to go back to.

“I opened my books to everybody during Covid and I saw everybody. But then I realised I wasn’t getting paid for it, and it was completely and utterly damaging for my practice and my business.

“I can’t see NHS patients because I can’t afford to.”

Mr McGrow says the whole industry needs to change, adding that he lost more than £100,000 over the course of the pandemic.

Clydebank Post: Stuart McGrow isn't accepting new NHS patients because he says he cant afford toStuart McGrow isn't accepting new NHS patients because he says he cant afford to

“People need the choice, but people need to be aware of what they are actually choosing,” he added.

“NHS dentistry is not fit for purpose. We can’t do what the dental students are getting taught to do, it’s a shambles.”

Between May and July, BBC researchers reached out to every UK dental practice with an NHS contract to ask if they were taking on new patients.

Working with the British Dental Association (BDA), the BBC identified 8,533 dental practices across the UK that were believed to hold NHS contracts and attempted to call them all. The survey found:

• In Scotland, 82 per cent of NHS practices were not accepting new adult patients, 687 of 839.

• Of those practices not taking on adults in Scotland, 39 per cent (267) said they had an open waiting list, and 18 per cent (124) said the wait time was a year or longer or were unable to say how long it would be.

• In Scotland, 79 per cent of NHS practices were not accepting new child patients, 663 of 839.

Last month, BDA Scotland warned the Scottish Government risked undermining the future sustainability of NHS dentistry, as they scaled down vital financial support for the service.

David McColl, chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee, said: “You can’t run a health service on soundbites and slogans. Ministers need to take a long hard look at the evidence and bring forward the reforms and resources we need to deliver for patients across Scotland.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is investing heavily in dentistry, including the removal of NHS dental charges during the lifetime of this parliament, to improve oral health and ensure patients get the help they need, with a nine per cent increase in the budget for NHS dental services in 2022/23.

“We have also provided dentists with an additional £20m of increased fees from to give them new and additional incentives to see more patients.”