§ 29 and 30. Mr. Keelingasked the Minister of Health (1) what is the present average delay in the supply and repair of false teeth under the National Health Service scheme; and, in view of complaints that many patients are kept waiting several months, what steps he proposes to take to accelerate the service;
2006 (2) in view of the inability of dentists to cope with the repair of false teeth and their refusal to co-operate with independent repair firms, what action he proposes to make it possible for the skill and experience of the 1,500 technicians employed by these firms to be used for the benefit of the National Health Service.
§ Mr. BevanThere is a certain delay in the provision of new dentures. No evidence of any substantial delay in obtaining repairs to dentures has come to my notice. As regards the use of independent dental technicians, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Bexley (Mr. Bramall) on 27th January.
§ Mr. KeelingAs, according to that reply, these dental mechanics have to be supervised by dentists, how does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile his present reply with the statement of the Teviot committee that it will take 20 years before the country has enough dentists?
§ Mr. BevanIt is desirable in my view, and in the view of those who are inquiring into this matter, that dental technicians should be under the supervision of properly qualified dentists. I do not share the pessimistic outlook to which the hon. Member has referred.
§ 42. Mrs. Corbetasked the Minister of Health how many complete sets of new dentures have been supplied under the National Health Service to the latest convenient date; at what cost; and what is the average gross profit made by the dentist on each set.
§ Mr. BevanI regret that information as to the number of complete sets of dentures supplied under the National Health Service is not available. The fee prescribed for full upper and lower dentures is £10 10s. on the assumption that the average practice expenses for this item amount to just over £7, of which £4 15s. represents workshop charges.