MSP Alasdair Allan has urged the comhairle and the health board to abandon proposals for a single dental surgery in Uist.
Patients face round trips of up to 60 miles to see the nearest dentist if the clinics in Lochmaddy and Liniclate shut. The Lochboisdale was closed last March.
Islanders are fiercely opposed to the plan to have a centralised surgery within the Balivanich hospital.
The Western Isles integrated joint board failed to come to a decision over the issue at its meeting on Thursday.
Board members were evenly split on a motion put forward by Cllr Paul Steele not to proceed with the hub model.
Cllr Steele said they should explore developing three sites across Uist.
Now it is up to for the chief executives of the comhairle and NHS Western Isles to come to a joint final decision on that motion.
MSP Alasdair Allan has written to both authorities, urging them to respect the “overwhelming and seemingly unanimous view” of people in Uist and reject the single dental hub idea.
Mr Allan said: “Since these proposals were first put forward I have made numerous representations on behalf of the communities in Uist.
“The unanimity of representations received by my office against this proposal has been unprecedented.
“The overwhelming and seemingly unanimous view of my constituents is that the single hub model would be a backwards step in terms of the delivery of dental care in the Uists.
“The public meetings held on this issue made that abundantly clear.
“I am concerned that further attempts to impose this solution on the communities in Uist could severely damage the reputation and credibility of the Western Isles integrated joint board.
“I have therefore written to both chief executives urging them to listen to the communities and abandon the single dental hub model.”
Plea to save Uist dental service against closure plans
19 February 2018
