A woman who moved to Stranraer in southwest Scotland has described being “shocked” by the difficulty of accessing NHS dental services, as residents face waiting times of up to five years to register with a local dentist.
Maissie Presslie, 70, relocated from Falkirk to Stranraer in 2024 and said she did not anticipate such severe challenges in securing routine dental care. She told the BBC that despite contacting every practice she could find, she and her husband have been unable to join an NHS dental register.
“We’ve been told very clearly it could take up to five years because there are hundreds of people already waiting,” she said. “That’s a very long time.”
The situation has worsened following confirmation from NHS Dumfries and Galloway that around 3,000 patients in Stranraer are being deregistered after the retirement of one of the town’s dentists. The loss has intensified pressure on already overstretched services in the area.
Mrs Presslie said she and her husband were accustomed to six-monthly dental check-ups, something that has now become impossible. She is increasingly concerned about where to turn if she needs urgent treatment.
“If I break a tooth or a filling comes out, I really don’t know where to go,” she said. “As we get older, dental care becomes more important.”
She added that she had tried registering with practices in nearby towns such as Newton Stewart and Girvan, without success. She had also been on the waiting list at the practice now deregistering patients.
Stranraer has a population of around 10,500, rising to an estimated 14,000 when surrounding areas are included. Mrs Presslie said the lack of dentists was likely frustrating for long-term residents as well as newcomers.
NHS Dumfries and Galloway said it continues to face “significant challenges” in providing general NHS dental services across the region. It said its role is to work with dental practices to support them and encourage dentists to relocate to the area.
The health board noted that the recent deregistrations coincided with the launch of a new service for patients aged 25 and under at Galloway Community Hospital, offering check-ups and treatment. It also said unregistered patients of any age can access a single course of treatment at the Garden Hill Dental Clinic in Castle Douglas, about 55 miles away.
The Scottish government said it has provided an additional ￡437,000 in recurring funding to NHS Dumfries and Galloway to address dental access issues. The funding supports services at Garden Hill and Galloway Community Hospital.
A spokesperson added that ministers have committed to “review and refresh” financial incentives aimed at encouraging dentists to work in rural and remote communities.