Dental facilities share £82m fund

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Health boards across Scotland are set to share almost Â£82m for projects aimed at improving the nation's teeth.

NHS Grampian, which will receive Â£7.62m, plans a multi-agency health centre at Foresterhill and dental centres in Huntly and Fraserburgh.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran plans dental centres in Cumnock and Ayr and a resource centre in Ardrossan for GPs and dentists.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Highland also propose major projects.

The plan is to create 13 new stand-alone dental centres across Scotland and two other centres which will form part of multi-purpose health facilities.

Other projects across the country include multi-function health centres and GP premises, as well as grants to community pharmacists.

SCOTTISH DENTAL INVESTMENT Ayr and Arran - Â£6.97mBorders - Â£1.35mDumfries and Galloway - Â£2.01mFife - Â£6.11mForth Valley - Â£3.25mGrampian - Â£7.62Greater Glasgow - Â£21.5mHighland - Â£5.64mLanarkshire - Â£6.47mLothian - Â£11.42mOrkney - Â£1.35mShetland - Â£1.35mTayside - Â£5.44mWestern Isles - Â£1.35m

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde plans a Â£9m replacement of Possilpark Health Centre - accommodating GPs, dentists and other community health partners - from its Â£21.5m allocation.

NHS Highland plans a dental centre in Oban and surgeries in Inverness, Thurso, Dingwall and Campbeltown from its Â£5.64m share of the funding.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "In the tough climate we find ourselves in, capital projects are a crucial way for the government to stimulate the economy by providing local employment opportunities.

"That is why the projects outlined today represent not just better health facilities for people the length and breadth of Scotland, but also a lifeline for some of the hardest-hit sectors of our economy like construction.

"Since May 2007, this government has made NHS dentistry a top priority and these projects are further evidence of our determination to reverse the years of decline seen under previous administrations."

She added that the opening of Scotland's third dental school in Aberdeen last October would lead to more trained dentists entering the NHS.

The announcement comes at a time when the number of people on waiting lists for NHS dental treatment in Grampian has risen to more than 30,000.

NHS Grampian said the funding would make a big difference to dental services in the area.