Skip to main content

Language: English / Gàidhlig

Loading…

Seòmar agus comataidhean

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

Criathragan Hide all filters

Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 10 January 2025
Select which types of business to include


Select level of detail in results

Displaying 759 contributions

|

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 24 October 2023

Jenni Minto

The intention of the reforms is to ensure that we continue to make NHS dentistry attractive to dentists.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 24 October 2023

Jenni Minto

As I have said on a number of occasions, we believe that this is the right reform, building on the foundations of the way that dentistry is funded and provided in Scotland.

It is also incredibly important that we continue the dialogue with our dentists to ensure that we are getting the right changes made, whether they relate to governance, workforce or access, which are all important.

I know that Tim McDonnell wants to make some comments about access.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 24 October 2023

Jenni Minto

We have been very clear about that since we started discussions a number of months ago with the British Dental Association and, more widely, with dentists in Scotland. That work will start once the system is bedded in. We have already started with some very well-attended webinars to ensure that dentists understand what the changes are and how they will implement them in their practice.

We will constantly keep review of the system in mind. Tom Ferris meets dentists and directors of dentistry regularly through national health service boards and the BDA. We have been very clear with the BDA that we want to work with it to ensure that this is the right start for the reforms that we are looking at.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 24 October 2023

Jenni Minto

That is my hope.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 24 October 2023

Jenni Minto

Thank you for that question. The frequency of check-ups has been commented on in the media. The yearly review is in-depth and follows the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

However, it is really important for everyone to understand that it is for the dentist to make the decision based on the patient. In response to Dr Gulhane, I referenced the fact that there is not an “average patient”. It is important to recognise that if your dentist feels that you need to be seen more regularly, he or she can choose that.

I was disappointed to be told by my dentist that I had to come back in six months, because I thought that I was looking after my teeth’s health pretty well and was hoping for a check-up in nine months. However, the approach is really focused on the patient. That is what the regulations give us the opportunity to do.

I am sure, Mr Sweeney, that if you were to reflect on that and were being seen by another area of the health service and were told that you did not need to come back in six months but in nine months, you would see that as good news. We need to remember that the frequency of check-ups is based on the patient and the clinical expertise of the dentist.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 24 October 2023

Jenni Minto

Thank you for that question. As you will have seen in the BDA’s response to the committee’s letter on the regulations, it said that that approach is actually something that it had been looking for. It feels that managing patients’ oral health is doing things at the right level because we all have a degree of responsibility for looking after our health.

I take on board the point about access; I underline, yet again, that we are seeking to improve access through the payment reforms that we will put in place next week.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Programme for Government 2023-24

Meeting date: 12 September 2023

Jenni Minto

I heard from people who live with long Covid that there needs to be more public awareness of the conditions that they live with. I heard from one gentleman in his early 70s who had been fit and used to go out walking a lot. It now takes him more than half an hour to walk half a mile.

There is a need for better knowledge on the part of the wider public about the impacts of long Covid. I was pleased that I had officials with me on that visit and will have them with me in my meetings next week and the following week. That means that they have heard about that need, and I am speaking to them about how we can improve awareness of long Covid in the population.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Programme for Government 2023-24

Meeting date: 12 September 2023

Jenni Minto

If you write to me directly, I will be happy to look into the circumstances of that case. As you will know, the Scottish Government has a number of funding streams to support dentistry services, including grants to set up new practices or to employ additional people. Those are dealt with at health board level, but I will be happy to look into the case if you care to write to me about it.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Programme for Government 2023-24

Meeting date: 12 September 2023

Jenni Minto

I have learned while working in my portfolio that we can never be fully confident that we have eradicated a condition or disease. I have regular meetings with officials who work on various diseases and conditions. We have not spoken specifically about rickets, so I will ensure that we do that at our next meeting.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Programme for Government 2023-24

Meeting date: 12 September 2023

Jenni Minto

That is a fair question. When I was visiting a school in my constituency, a teacher came out with eight brightly coloured vapes in her hand.

I absolutely agree that we are in a very difficult situation. As you have rightly pointed out, it is already illegal to sell vapes to under-18s. We have discussed that with our local authorities to ensure that they recognise that. However, as I mentioned to Ms Mackay, the tobacco action plan is coming out this year.