Written Question · S5W-29523 · Session 5
When it expects dental practices to reopen, in light of the target in England of 8 June 2020.
The question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects dental practices to reopen, in light of the target in England of 8 June 2020.
The answer
The reopening of dental services in Scotland presents a number of specific challenges which the Chief Dental Officer and officials continue to strive to address in collaboration with NHS colleagues. At the present time the position of the Scottish Government remains the same as that when answering the question from Neil Bibby MSP of 21 May (SW5-29259) viz.:
“On 2 June 2020 the Cabinet Secretary for Health & Sport made a statement to the Scottish Parliament concerning the on-going delivery of NHS services as part of the Scottish Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this statement she indicated that work is being undertaken with dental teams to prepare for a phased introduction of dental services over the course of this month.
“The Chief Dental Officer for Scotland wrote to all dental contractors providing NHS dental services on 20 May with details of the remobilisation plan which is now to be implemented as circumstances permit.
“Remobilisation of NHS dental practices is an extremely complex process. We need to be mindful of the oral health needs of patients balanced against the wider situation with COVID-19, and the essential requirement that we reduce the risk of community transmission and protect both patients and dental teams. When making the decision on reopening dental practices in Scotland we will take into consideration the added risk of aerosol generating procedures on COVID-19 transmission and the availability of appropriate PPE.”
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
“On 2 June 2020 the Cabinet Secretary for Health & Sport made a statement to the Scottish Parliament concerning the on-going delivery of NHS services as part of the Scottish Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this statement she indicated that work is being undertaken with dental teams to prepare for a phased introduction of dental services over the course of this month.
“The Chief Dental Officer for Scotland wrote to all dental contractors providing NHS dental services on 20 May with details of the remobilisation plan which is now to be implemented as circumstances permit.
“Remobilisation of NHS dental practices is an extremely complex process. We need to be mindful of the oral health needs of patients balanced against the wider situation with COVID-19, and the essential requirement that we reduce the risk of community transmission and protect both patients and dental teams. When making the decision on reopening dental practices in Scotland we will take into consideration the added risk of aerosol generating procedures on COVID-19 transmission and the availability of appropriate PPE.”
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S5W-29523 by reference.