The last bite

Northern uplift

Devolution has thrown up many interesting facets of life. One such is the recent revelation that the number of NHS dental nurses in Scotland has increased by 65 per cent over a five-year period. Government statistics show that there were 862 NHS dental nurses in 2007, compared with 1,426 in 2012, while the number of dental technicians also rose from 48 to 130 in the same period.

Although the SNP claim the figures prove the party is committed to improving the health of people living in Scotland, which I am sure no one would doubt, such a steep increase does raise some questions. Is it that there are now many more NHS practices in Scotland or that the existing ones are suddenly realising that they can’t manage without more nurses? Or might it be that the mandatory registration of DCPs with the GDC has made them more countable? Whatever the explanation I am sure that dental patients are happy to have 65 per cent more smiley faces at their Scotia chairsides.