DENTAL services are in crisis in Inverclyde with every single practice in the area now CLOSED to new NHS patients.

It means that people will have to fork out hundreds of pounds more for private treatment instead.

The extent of the problem is exposed in a report to the new social work and social health scrutiny panel, which confirms all 11 local practices are no longer registering NHS patients.

Some of the surgeries are putting people on waiting lists that are TWO YEARS long.

Two practices have resigned their NHS contracts altogether as they turn their back on public sector treatments.

Patients and politicians are warning of devastating consequences in in oral health.

Councillor Martin McCluskey, who represents the district on the health board, said: "This is privatisation by the back door and something needs to be done about it.

"We have worked so hard in Inverclyde in recent times to improve access to dental care and now all that good work is being undone.

"It is something that so many people are getting in touch with us about."

Mr McCluskey says he will raise the lack of access to dental treatment with NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde management.

The report prepared for the scrutiny panel highlights the Envisage surgery in Kilmacolm's decision to only register NHS patients once they have signed up for a private treatment plan and their teeth fit the bill.

Council leader Stephen McCabe says he has also been contacted by constituents who are trying to register for an NHS dentist, including Port Glasgow woman Angela Patton.

The 53-year-old, who lives in Marloch Avenue and works for SP Energy Networks, said: "I moved to the area and I have been trying to register with a dentist.

"I have tried every single one.

"Some are offering payment plans but I am not sure I want to commit to that expense, I am on my own.

"I had always been registered with an NHS dentist.

"People are now going to wait until they have no option but to get expensive private treatment."

Councillor McCabe says a number of people have contacted him complaining about the fact that none of the local dental practices are currently taking on any new NHS patients.

He said: "While emergency dental treatment is available at the Glasgow Dental Hospital this is less than ideal.

"Residents of Inverclyde who cannot afford to pay for treatment should have access to local dental services."

The health and social care partnership's clinical director is now set to meet with bosses responsible for primary dental services, to discuss the crisis.

Public Health Scotland warned earlier this year that dental contacts and treatments had not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels and say inequalities were widening in areas like Inverclyde.

The British Dental Association argues that the current remuneration model for dentists means that practices currently supply NHS treatment at a loss, resulting in increasing numbers of practices leaving the NHS contract framework.

In April, the Orangefield Dental Care practice in Greenock announced that it had made the 'difficult decision' to stop providing treatment under the NHS for patients aged over 18 who are not in receipt of applicable benefits.

In an email to patients, they said the pandemic had brought about 'significant restrictions and changes', and that the current NHS system did not give the opportunity to provide the best 'preventative approach' for patients.

Faye Dickie, practice manager at Envisage in Kilmacolm, said: “We opened to serve our community and provide the best possible dental care.

"However, due to increased costs and how the Scottish Government remunerates NHS dentistry, we have been forced to adapt our business model of how we currently welcome new patients at our practice.”