Youngsters across Forth Valley are waiting on average around three months to have teeth extracted, new data has revealed.
Children living within the NHS Forth Valley catchment had to wait an average of 12 weeks for dental surgery to have teeth pulled in 2023/24. That’s up from 11 weeks in 2019/20.
For adults in the health board region, they were made to wait just eight weeks – down from 11 weeks in 2019/20.
The figures were obtained by Scottish Labour through Freedom of Information requests to each of the health boards across Scotland.
NHS Forth Valley says it has been able to keep waiting times for tooth extractions down whilst simultaneously seeing a spike in the umber of referrals.
A spokesperson for NHS Forth Valley said: “Despite an increase in tooth extraction referrals due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have been able to maintain some of the lowest average waiting times for children in the country, while reducing average waiting times for adults by 30-per cent.
“Children and adults who require urgent dental treatment, including tooth extractions, would also be prioritised and treated sooner than those who require more routine, less urgent treatment.
Click here for more news and sport from the Stirling area.
Stirling and Strathallan Labour MP Chris Kane says he is pleased to see NHS Forth Valley make some progress on waiting times, but expressed concerns over children’s waiting times rising slightly.
He said: “There are clearly huge variations across Scotland, with some horrendous waiting times in places. However, it does seem that NHS Forth Valley are making some progress.
“It is worrying that children’s waiting times have risen, and I would like to hear more from NHS Forth Valley as to the reasons for this.
“Children and young people’s services in other areas, mental health for instance, have consistently been a real concern, and so I would like some reassurance that services for children and young people overall are being prioritised for action.”