§ 16. Mr. Fellasked the Minister of Health how many persons received orthodontic treatment under the National Health Service in each of the years from 1947 to 1954, inclusive; and what was the total cost of the treatment in each year.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Miss Patricia Hornsby-Smith)As the Answer involves a number of figures, I will with permission circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. FellIs the Minister quite happy about the figures she intends to circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT about the increases which have occurred in 1947–54?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithWhen the hon. Member has read the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT, he will see that they show a steady and very substantial rise.
§ Following is the reply:
| — | Courses of Orthodontic treatment approved | Instalments of payment made* | |
| £ | |||
| 1948 | … | 3,500 | 300,000 |
| 1949 | … | 12,000 | |
| 1950 | … | 20,000 | |
| 1951 | … | 25,000 | |
| 1952 | … | 34,000 | 250,000 |
| 1953 | … | 41,000 | 400,000 |
| 1954 | … | 48,000 | 500,000 |
| *About 40 per cent. of all the courses approved are still in progress. Interim payments are made as the courses proceed. |
§ It is regretted that similar information is not available for the hospital service.
§ 17 and 18. Mr. Fellasked the Minister of Health (1) if he will make a statement on the progress that is being made in orthodontics in Britain;
(2) how far he is satisfied that sufficient facilities exist for the treatment of children and others needing orthodontic care; and what is the number of dentists who treated orthodontically, under the National Health Service, more than 100 patients each in the last convenient year.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithOrthodontic treatment is provided under the hospital and specialist services, the school health service and the general dental services. My right hon. Friend is discussing with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education and the British Dental Association the issue of guidance to hospitals and local authorities to enable the best use to be made of the limited number of orthodontists available. The number of dentists in England and Wales who in 1954 were each given approval to start more than 100 courses of orthodontics under the general dental services was 42. My right hon. Friend regrets that similar information is not available for the other services.
§ Mr. FellIs my hon. Friend aware that this part of the dental service is perhaps as important as any other dentistry? Is she aware that the number of orthodontists treating more than 100 patients at the last convenient year—42, the number she has given—is not terribly encouraging or terribly satisfactory? Will she say what prospects there are of this service being very much widened in scope in the coming year?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithIt is not a case of widening the scope of the service but of the number of people available with the required skill to carry out this very difficult treatment. The figures show that there has been a substantial increase year by year in the number of treatments given. I think the hon. Member will find that there has been no limitation on necessary treatment where the skill has been available to carry it out.
§ Mr. HastingsIn view of the great importance of orthodontic treatment for general health and the avoidance of chest diseases, amongst others, what steps are being taken to train more orthodontists, the number of whom is obviously insufficient to deal with the great need which exists at present?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithI agree with the hon. Member's point about the importance of this speciality, and the House will be interested to know that a diploma of orthodontics was recently introduced by the Royal College of Surgeons with a determination to encourage dentists in general practice to undertake this more detailed work in orthodontics.
§ Mr. J. R. H. HutchisonWhen the Minister is issuing guidance to local authorities about this treatment, will she also issue guidance to the House on what orthodontists are?