I have lost count of number of Scots forced to go to private dentists – Sarwar

Anas Sarwar has said he has “lost count” of the number of people being forced to go private in order to get a dentist appointment.

The Scottish Labour leader reacted to a new YouGov poll that found a fifth of Scots have been unable to access NHS dental care.

The survey, commissioned by the British Dental Association (BDA), found Scots rank dentistry (15%) roughly on par with crime (16%) as among their most important concerns.

The economy and the cost of living remain the most crucial issues for Scottish voters at 72%, followed by health in general at 46% and immigration at 32%.

According to the survey, 12% of adults have been unable to secure an NHS dental appointment in the past two years, while a further 7% said they had not attempted to book one because they assumed they would be unable to get one.

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents said the Scottish Government should be doing more to improve NHS dentistry, while just 20% said they believed they were doing all they can.

Speaking to the Press Association in Glasgow, where he announced his plans for an NHS Scotland app, the leader of Scottish Labour said it was “clear” not enough Scots have access to a dentist.

Mr Sarwar, who is a former dentist, said the issue came down to the number of dentists currently employed in Scotland, how much they are paid and how many of those work in parts of the country experiencing “significant gaps” in care.

He said: “I’ve lost count of the number of people that have told me that they have phoned a dental practice to try and get an NHS appointment, and they’re told you need to wait four weeks, five weeks for an NHS appointment.

“But if you’re willing to pay private, you can go in and get an appointment in a week or two weeks.

“That’s not acceptable, it’s not fair, and it breaches the fundamental founding principles of our NHS, which is being available and free at the point of need.”

Mr Sarwar said the issue was one of the reasons why Scottish Labour had committed to a “train here, stay here” policy that would force medics who took up a funded spot at a Scottish university to work in the NHS or social care sector for at least five years.

Those who fail to do so could be forced to pay back their tuition fees and bursary support.

He added: “It’s right that if the public pay for someone to get that education and get that skill, then the public should rightfully expect a minimum commitment to our health and social care system and our NHS in return.

“That will help maintain and retain dentists. But we also have to look at other incentives to get dentists working in all parts of the country, so that everyone across Scotland has access to a quality service.”

Ahead of the Holyrood election, the BDA published a series of calls as part of its 2026 manifesto.

The trade union urged politicians to double down on prevention, expand the Childsmile programme and encourage families to make healthier choices.

It urged the Government to protect dental practices from surging costs, including rises in national insurance from the UK Government, which it said have already been mitigated in Northern Ireland, but not in Scotland.

Albert Yeung, chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Council, said: “If we want NHS dentistry in Scotland to remain a going concern in the 21st century, it will require a sustained plan of action.

“It means closing an oral health gap between rich and poor that’s already widening. To call time on postcode lotteries of care that remain the norm.

“It requires the next government to ensure we have the dental team members we need on the front line.

“And it means doubling down on prevention. This country can’t rest on its laurels when decay remains the number one reason for hospital admissions among young children.

“The public are clear the next Scottish Government needs to go further, and faster. We must future-proof dentistry in Scotland, because failure to do so will come at a steep financial, human and ultimately a political cost.

“This is already an issue on the doorstep. It will remain one until voters see real change.”

The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.