Health board seeks permanent dentist for Harris 10/9/11
NHS Western Isles is to advertise for a permanent dentist for Harris. Recruitment is due to start in a few weeks.
Presently, dental staff from Stornoway provide services on Harris.
However, the Tarbert surgery is shutting down because its Old Hostel base is beign demolished to make way for the new school.
Dental services are relocating to the Scalpay clinic until the health board decides on a longer term option.
MSP Alasdair Allan welcomed the movement on recruiting a dentist but stressed an accessible centralised surgery was required.
Mr Allan said: “I welcome the fact that NHS Western Isles recognise that the population of Harris and Scalpay need their own dentist, and that one will be recruited very shortly.
“People have been waiting quite a while now for a permanent dentist to be based in Harris once more, and I hope this will end the uncertainty and the need to rely on locums and staff from Stornoway.
“I will continue to press on the issues surrounding dental accommodation in Harris, to allow this service to be more easily accessible for the whole of Harris.
“This is definite progress and I look forward to seeing more progress in the coming weeks, with hopefully a new dental appointment in Harris in the near future.”