Roll out free dental care for care experienced people aged 18-26 first
Last updated 3 years ago
SNP Manifesto 2021, p.34We will start the roll out [of free NHS dentistry] with care experienced people aged between 18 and 26…
Our verdict
Status
This promise has been kept. In June 2021, the Scottish Government announced plans to extend NHS dental care to all 18-26 year-olds, exceeding the terms of the promise. Health Secretary Humza Yousaf explicitly referred to the original pledge in the announcement (emphasis added):
“That is why we now are going even further than our original commitment to remove dental charges for care-experienced young people within 100 days of this Government and widening this out to include all 18 to 25 year-olds.”
The policy was subsequently enacted in August 2021.
“Free NHS dental care for young people” (Scottish Government, 16th June 2021)
“Removal of NHS dental charges for all young people” (Scottish Government, 24th August 2021)