The Vice Chair of NHS Lanarkshire, Donald Reid, recently visited the Coatbridge Dental Outreach Centre to meet staff and trainees delivering NHS dental care in the local community.
He was joined by Professor Soumen Sengupta, Chief Officer of South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership, who has responsibility for Lanarkshire’s Public Dental Service, and Professor Aileen Bell, Professor of Oral Surgery and Dental Education at the University of Glasgow.
The visit gave NHS leaders the chance to hear first‑hand about the work taking place at the centre, supporting people who are not currently registered with an NHS dentist while also helping to train the next generation of dental professionals.
The Coatbridge Dental Outreach Centre offers adults aged 16 and over one free course of dental treatment. Care is provided by dental and dental hygiene and therapy trainees, under the close supervision of experienced NHS dentists.
During the visit, discussions focused on how the outreach programme is helping to improve access to NHS dental care locally, as well as the importance of partnership working to support education and workforce development.
NHS Lanarkshire works closely with the University of Glasgow in dental undergraduate education and with Glasgow Caledonian University in the training of dental therapists. Colleagues from NHS Education for Scotland, who have responsibility for national dental education and training, also attended the visit.
Donald Reid, Vice Chair of NHS Lanarkshire, said: “We know there are real concerns across the country about access to NHS dental services, so it was encouraging to see the difference being made here in Coatbridge.
“Staff and trainees are working together to improve access to care for local people, while also helping to develop the future dental workforce through strong partnerships.”
Professor Aileen Bell added: “Outreach centres like Coatbridge provide an excellent learning environment for trainees, combining high‑quality clinical supervision with real experience of delivering NHS care.
“Working in partnership with NHS Lanarkshire helps ensure trainees are well prepared for professional practice while making a meaningful contribution to local services.”
Pic: Our Vice Chair, Donald Reid (left) and Professor Soumen Sengupta (right) met two graduate students working at a local dental practice.
