Equipment that could save the lives of heart-attack victims is to be installed in every dental practice across the north and north-east by the end of August.
The initiative is part of a £1million national scheme to give people who suffer cardiac arrest a better chance of surviving.
More than 1,500 people died from a heart attack outside of hospitals in Scotland last year.
Only 5% of people who have a cardiac arrest in the community now survive, and every minute of delay cuts their chances.
Modern defibrillators, which can be used by any member of the public, deliver an electric shock to the chest to get a victim’s heart beating again.
The Scottish Government wants to ensure they are widely available and now plans to make sure that every one of the 970 dental practices in Scotland has one. Local people will be informed of their location through a range of measures, including displays in the windows of dental practices.
The move was welcomed by Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Dave Stewart, who has been campaigning for more defibrillators to be made available.
“Obviously, time is a vital factor when people are having a heart attack and, if we can increase our use of these defibrillators, it could well save lives across Scotland,” he said.
“I think it is a good move and thoroughly support it.”
Dentists are trained how to use defibrillators and practices that already have them will be compensated.
Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said: “Every second counts when someone’s heart goes into cardiac arrest and having access to a defibrillator can mean the difference between life and death.
“As these machines are becoming easier to use, it is only right that the public have more access to its life-saving potential in any public places.
“There are almost 1,000 NHS dental practices in the centre of Scottish communities.
“By giving them this equipment, we are providing 1,000 more chances to save a life.
“I believe that this investment will save many more lives.”
The machines will be mapped on to the Scottish Ambulance Service control system to enable ambulance call-handlers to direct the public to the nearest dental practice while an ambulance is on its way. Highland dentist Robert Donald, chairman of the Scottish Dental Practice Committee, said: “Only 5% of people who have a cardiac arrest in the community survive. However, when defibrillation is delivered promptly, survival rates can be as high as 75%.
“As there are around 1,000 dental practices across Scotland, dental teams have the potential to save many lives by increasing public access to defibrillators. In a situation where every second counts, we’re pleased the government has backed our campaign to widen public access to a defibrillator.”