§ 19. Mr. F. Noel-Bakerasked the Minister of Health what steps he will take to improve dental services in Swindon in view of growing local complaints about their inadequacy and about delays.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI am not aware of any special difficulty about the dental services at Swindon provided under the National Health Service. In the case which the hon. Member has sent to me, the complaint relates mainly to the school dental service and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education will write to him about it.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThe Minister will be aware that there are a number of matters within his responsibility which are causing very great anxiety in Swindon. May I ask if he will take up this question of the school dental service with his right hon. Friend to see that something is done very quickly about it? Will he look carefully into the detailed cases of a number of constituents which I have submitted to him within the last few days and, still more, cases which will be coming in?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThere is a national shortage of dentists, as we all know, but the ratio of dentists to the population in Swindon is slightly ahead of the national average. On the broader question, I am already in touch with my right hon. Friend and shall be writing to the hon. Member.