Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron has expressed concern for the future of NHS dentistry after the Scottish Government decided to  withdraw emergency funding from dental practices from April 1.

Mr Cameron said: “The Scottish Conservatives oppose this decision by SNP ministers because we fear that dentists will have to reduce the amount of NHS dentistry that they carry out.

“Research by British Dental Association show that four out of five dentists plan to scale back their NHS commitments while more than a third are ‘likely’ or ‘extremely likely’ to stop NHS work entirely if this funding is cut.

“We all know how difficult it can be to get NHS dental treatment right now, and what we need from ministers is a plan on how that can be put right. Unfortunately, there are few signs that Humza Yousaf, the Health Secretary, actually has such a plan.

“The SNP just don’t have a grip on what is happening with the NHS, whether it is A&E waiting times, cancer testing, or dentistry.

“The SNP-Green coalition need to urgently focus on what they are meant to do, namely delivering public services.”