Public Health Minister visits NES to learn about oral health work 

Public Health Minister visits NES to learn about oral health work 

Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, Jenni Minto MSP, visited the Glasgow office of NHS Education for Scotland (NES) on 29 July to learn more about the national NHS Board’s work to reduce oral health inequalities through education and collaboration.

During the visit, NES staff showcased key programmes such as Childsmile, Caring for Smiles, and Eat Well for Oral Health, along with the use of Open Badges - digital learning tools that enable staff across health and social care to develop knowledge and skills in a flexible, accessible way.

The Minister heard how these resources are supporting families and professionals across Scotland, helping deliver consistent, person-centred oral health messages.

Minister for Public Health Jenni Minto said:

“Education and awareness raising plays a key role in our efforts to tackle oral health inequalities – not only in the health and social care sector but in local communities too.

“It was a pleasure to visit the team at NES to learn about the vital work they are undertaking to support the delivery of our Oral Health Improvement initiatives. Our continued investment in these programmes demonstrates our commitment to improving the oral health of everyone in Scotland, particularly those in our most vulnerable communities.”

 

David Garbutt welcomes Ms Minto (third from the right at the front, next to Lee Savarrio, second from the right) along with NES colleagues.

Dr David Garbutt, NES Chair, said:

“I was delighted to welcome Scotland’s Minister for Public Health to NES’s new Glasgow office on Bothwell Street, showing efficiencies in action. The visit presented opportunity to share with Ms Minto the innovative and inclusive learning approach our national NHS Board adopts. With the work of NES spanning the entire journey of the health and social care professional, the collaborative efforts of our staff, and impact they have to people’s lives across Scotland, was apparent.

“Our Dental Workforce Development Reducing Inequalities team showcased a range of work on which NES leads in collaboration with key partners; working relationships that we value highly. I very much welcome the interested that Ms Minto took, and support the Minister offered, in all the work presented on the day.”

 

David Garbutt, standing, welcomes Ms Minto (third from the left, seated) at NES’s Bothwell Street office.

Dr Lee Savarrio, NES Dental Director and Postgraduate Dean, said:

“The education and training provided by the Dental Directorate at NES aims to be outcome focused and, where possible, targeted at reducing inequalities in oral health across Scotland. We were delighted to update Ms Minto on the work our dedicated Reducing Inequalities team delivers through the Oral Health Improvement and Open Badges programmes.

“By supporting the education of dental teams and the wider health and social care workforce in collaboration with third sector and local communities, we are helping to build skills, knowledge and confidence to improve oral health. This effort is focused where it is most needed, often for the most vulnerable members of the population.”

The visit was part of a wider programme of summer engagements by Ms Minto and reflects NES’s strategic commitment to health equity and workforce development.

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