West Scotland MSP Jamie Greene has hit out at the Scottish Government over their “failure” to support dentistry services in North Ayrshire with new NHS patients being turned away.

Recent data revealed that as many as four in five dental practices across Scotland were no longer taking new patients, a situation widely attributed to Scottish Government changes to dentist fees.

The Conservative MSP has flagged the problem with the Scottish Government, calling on them to bring forward their dental reform proposals from April next year.

Meanwhile, new patients say they are struggling to get registered with reports that in entire local authorities across Scotland no new patients are being accepted.

Jamie Greene has written to all dental practices across North Ayrshire asking for their views on the situation and what they would like to see in terms of reform.

He said: “The dental sector is in crisis and the health secretary has once again been found asleep at the wheel.

“I am sympathetic to dentists who find themselves in challenging circumstances - it’s clear that the government’s policies have forced many into difficult financial situations.

“I have written to dental practices across our community to get their views and hear about what they’d like to see in terms of reform.

“The current situation cannot be allowed to continue and I call on the health minister to listen to the sector, not ignore them”.