Mr. David MacPherson

David MacPherson Principal Dentist

David Macpherson BDS (Principal)
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Through David MacPherson's leadership, the practice itself in itself is highly organised and efficient.

David MacPherson, of the Whitemoss Practice, whose patient list is 90 per cent NHS, said he had treated many unregistered patients at the weekend.

He said: "It's a personal decision; not every dentist on the rota would do the same thing.But I feel that when I am on call, if somebody phones it is my duty to treat everyone as a patient - regardless of whether or not they are registered with a dentist.

"If I'm already on my way out to see someone who is registered, then it makes no sense to me to say I won't see another person who needs me just because they haven't got their own dentist."

Mr MacPherson, who was voted the best dentist in Britain in 2004, said he was angry that Lanarkshire Health Board had failed to provide weekend dental services for people without their own dentist.

He said the appalling state of people's dental health in Lanarkshire - the area has some of the worst records for dental decay in Scotland - should have made it a priority for the health board.

Mr MacPherson went on: "The situation here in Lanarkshire is far from ideal, but I believe we are in this position because of the Glasgow Dental Hospital, which will not turn away a patient with an address outwith the city who turns up and is obviously in need of treatment.

"But that is an abuse of the service at the Glasgow Dental Hospital and not an excuse for the health board here not to provide the same kind of service locally."

Mr MacPherson said the one in four calls to the out-of-hours dentistry line by people without their own dentist showed how difficult it remained to get on a dentist's list.

A new service offering dental care to people without their own dentist is planned by Lanarkshire Health Board.

CALMING TOUCH: David Macpherson puts six-year-old patient Craig MacKenzie at ease before dental treatment
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And in recognition of this special service, Mr Macpherson has been named the best dentist in Britain. Mr Macpherson, of Whitemoss Dental Practice in East Kilbride, won the title Dentist of the Year in recognition of his work with anxious patients and training newly qualified staff. His waiting room is in a conservatory, away from the sound of the dentist's drill, and the walls are painted a soothing shade of blue. Mr Macpherson said: "It's particularly great to get this recognition when you think that, with 90% NHS patients, we were up against private clinics in Harley Street." The 36-year-old transformed the practice he took over 11 years ago with the help of his architect wife Karen. He said: "Lanarkshire has one of the worst dental health records in Scotland so it's important to encourage people to visit the dentist.
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And in recognition of this special service, Mr Macpherson has been named the best dentist in Britain. Mr Macpherson, of Whitemoss Dental Practice in East Kilbride, won the title Dentist of the Year in recognition of his work with anxious patients and training newly qualified staff. His waiting room is in a conservatory, away from the sound of the dentist's drill, and the walls are painted a soothing shade of blue. Mr Macpherson said: "It's particularly great to get this recognition when you think that, with 90% NHS patients, we were up against private clinics in Harley Street." The 36-year-old transformed the practice he took over 11 years ago with the help of his architect wife Karen. He said: "Lanarkshire has one of the worst dental health records in Scotland so it's important to encourage people to visit the dentist.
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And in recognition of this special service, Mr Macpherson has been named the best dentist in Britain. Mr Macpherson, of Whitemoss Dental Practice in East Kilbride, won the title Dentist of the Year in recognition of his work with anxious patients and training newly qualified staff. His waiting room is in a conservatory, away from the sound of the dentist's drill, and the walls are painted a soothing shade of blue. Mr Macpherson said: "It's particularly great to get this recognition when you think that, with 90% NHS patients, we were up against private clinics in Harley Street." The 36-year-old transformed the practice he took over 11 years ago with the help of his architect wife Karen. He said: "Lanarkshire has one of the worst dental health records in Scotland so it's important to encourage people to visit the dentist.
...
And in recognition of this special service, Mr Macpherson has been named the best dentist in Britain. Mr Macpherson, of Whitemoss Dental Practice in East Kilbride, won the title Dentist of the Year in recognition of his work with anxious patients and training newly qualified staff. His waiting room is in a conservatory, away from the sound of the dentist's drill, and the walls are painted a soothing shade of blue. Mr Macpherson said: "It's particularly great to get this recognition when you think that, with 90% NHS patients, we were up against private clinics in Harley Street." The 36-year-old transformed the practice he took over 11 years ago with the help of his architect wife Karen. He said: "Lanarkshire has one of the worst dental health records in Scotland so it's important to encourage people to visit the dentist.

David MacPherson, of the Whitemoss Practice, whose patient list is 90 per cent NHS, said he had treated many unregistered patients at the weekend.

He said: "It's a personal decision; not every dentist on the rota would do the same thing. But I feel that when I am on call, if somebody phones it is my duty to treat everyone as a patient - regardless of whether or not they are registered with a dentist.

"If I'm already on my way out to see someone who is registered, then it makes no sense to me to say I won't see another person who needs me just because they haven't got their own dentist."

Mr MacPherson, who was voted the best dentist in Britain in 2004, said he was angry that Lanarkshire Health Board had failed to provide weekend dental services for people without their own dentist.

He said the appalling state of people's dental health in Lanarkshire - the area has some of the worst records for dental decay in Scotland - should have made it a priority for the health board.

Mr MacPherson went on: "The situation here in Lanarkshire is far from ideal, but I believe we are in this position because of the Glasgow Dental Hospital, which will not turn away a patient with an address outwith the city who turns up and is obviously in need of treatment.

"But that is an abuse of the service at the Glasgow Dental Hospital and not an excuse for the health board here not to provide the same kind of service locally."

Mr MacPherson said the one in four calls to the out-of-hours dentistry line by people without their own dentist showed how difficult it remained to get on a dentist's list.