THE number of dentists carrying out NHS treatment in Fife has dropped.

Recent figures have shown that there are currently 232 dentists claiming funding from NHS Fife across the Kingdom compared to 257 in 2019/20.

The statistics were obtained by the Scottish Liberal Democrats and Fife MSP Willie Rennie expressed his concerns over the decline.

“Accessing NHS dentistry is a major concern for people," he said. "Local people have been hit by practice closures, other practices going private, and periods where there were no practices in Fife taking on new NHS patients.

“Too many are forced to turn to private dentistry or to put off treatment if they cannot afford to get work done. This is completely unacceptable.

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"The SNP has been absent in the face of this crisis and have rowed back on their manifesto promise to abolish dental charges.

“The Scottish Liberal Democrats have raised this repeatedly in parliament. We led a debate earlier this year and set out plans that would deliver quality, accessible dentistry in every community.

"Ministers need to rewrite their failed NHS Recovery Plan, prioritise workforce planning and boost the number of dentists taking on NHS patients.”