Find dental advisers and reference officers

Our experienced clinical practitioners provide you with advice and support to ensure treatment plans are appropriate and that patients benefit from improved clinical care.

We provide pre-treatment reviews and approval for complex or high-cost treatment plans, including orthodontics.

Dental advisers and reference officers

Below are details of dental advisers and reference officers, as well as their contact details if you wish to get in touch with them.

Gerard Boyle (Senior dental advisor)

Gerard has spent over 30 years in NHS clinical practice, including 15 years as a health board Practice Inspector and Dental Practice Adviser.

He’s represented the profession on the Scottish Dental Practice Committee and Local Dental Committees since 2004. And he has 10 years' experience in postgraduate education with the Faculty of General Dental Practice in Scotland.

Gerard joined the Practitioner Services clinical team on a full-time basis in 2019 and took up the post of Senior Dental Adviser in 2022.

• Phone number: 0131 275 6752
• Email address: gerard.boyle@nhs.scot
• Working hours: Full time

Gordon Coull

Gordon has over 30 years’ experience in hospital-based oral surgery and general dental practice, working as an associate and principal.

• Phone number: 0141 300 1901
• Email address: gordon.coull@nhs.scot
• Working hours: Full time

Joanna Duthie

Joanna graduated from Glasgow in 1991, and was awarded an MSc from the University of Edinburgh in 1998.

She’s worked in general practice for over 20 years, with a three-year period in Community Dental Service, and joined us in 2006.

• Phone number: 0141 300 1901
• Email address: joanna.duthie@nhs.scot
• Working hours: Full time

Lesley Feather

Lesley qualified in 1993 from the University of Edinburgh. She worked full time in general dental practice for 22 years before becoming a Dental Adviser / Dental Reference Officer with us in 2015.

• Phone number: 0131 275 6768
• Email address: lesley.thompson@nhs.scot
• Working hours: Full time

Alison Gilliatt

Alison qualified from Glasgow in 1988 and worked full time in NHS general practice for 26 years, including nine years as a Vocational Trainer. She was a sessional Dental Adviser for a year before joining the team full time.

• Phone number: 0131 275 6229
• Email address: alison.gilliatt@nhs.scot
• Working hours: Part time – Tuesday, Wednesday

Christina Malivitsi

Christina has experience in general dental practice and private practice in Scotland and in the Military Dental Hospital in Greece.

She’s worked part time in our team since 2019 while also working in practice and undertaking postgraduate training in prosthodontics.

• Phone number: 0131 275 6801
• Email address: christina.malivitsi@nhs.scot
• Working hours: Part time – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Karen Polland

Karen, who joined us in 2013, has worked in general dental practice since graduating from Glasgow in 2004.

• Phone number: 0131 275 6550
• Email address: karen.polland@nhs.scot
• Working hours: Part time – one half day per week (flexible)

Gregor Preston

Gregor graduated from Glasgow University in 1999 and worked in NHS general practice for over 20 years.

He also spent seven years as a Vocational Dental Practitioner trainer and joined as a full-time Dental Adviser in April 2020.

Phone number: 0131 275 7115 Email address: gregor.preston@nhs.scot Working hours: Full time

Katie Stirling

Having graduated from Glasgow in 1988, Katie worked in general dental practice for 28 years, and as a principal for 21 of those years.

Katie has been a Vocational Dental Practitioner trainer and dental practice inspector, and has been a Dental Adviser since 2012 (becoming full time in 2015).

• Phone number: 0131 275 6846
• Email address: katie.stirling@nhs.scot
• Working hours: Part time – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday

Alan Whittet

Alan was a full-time GDP for 28 years and a Health Board Dental Practice Advisor for nearly 20 years.

• Phone number: 0131 275 6282
• Email address: alan.whittet@nhs.scot
• Working hours: Part time – Tuesday, Wednesday

Orthodontic dental advisers and reference officers

Ruth Fowler

Ruth gained her dental qualification from Glasgow University in 1988, and following her Fellowship in Dental Surgery, started orthodontic training in Dundee in 1992.

She qualified in 1995 and was employed as a Consultant Orthodontist in Forth Valley for 16 years before moving to a specialist orthodontic practice in Dundee.

Phone number: 0131 314 1584 Email address: ruth.fowler@nhs.scot Working hours: Part time – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Andrew Griffiths

Andrew graduated from Dundee in 1982 and spent the next five years within the hospital service, including a role in specialist training.

He gained an orthodontic qualification in 1987 and spent a period in mixed general and orthodontic practice. In 2002, Andrew entered specialist orthodontics and set up his own practice, which he’s still involved with to this day.

Phone number: 0131 275 1046 Email address: andrew.griffiths2@nhs.scot Working hours: Part time – Monday and Tuesday

Rosalind Ashwood

Roz graduated from Glasgow University in 1991. Whilst working in the hospital service, she gained her Fellowship in Dental Surgery in 1994. Following this, she undertook her Orthodontic Specialist Training at the Liverpool University Dental Hospital and the Countess of Chester Hospital gaining her MOrth in 1999 and graduating with an MDentSci in 2000 from the Liverpool University. Since 1999, Roz has worked in specialist orthodontic practice in Scotland.

Email address: rosalind.ashwood@nhs.scot Working hours: Part time – Monday and Tuesday

Contact customer service

Our customer service team is your first point of contact for any enquiries you have regarding payments and administration.

You can email the team at nss.psddental@nhs.scot or give us a call on 0131 275 6300.