HC Deb 08 February 1965 vol 706 cc14-5
6. Mr. Peter Walker

asked the Minister of Health what proposals he has for the use of auxiliaries in the dental services.

Mr. K. Robinson

I shall seek to encourage the appropriate use of dental auxiliaries in the hospital and local authority dental services and of dental hygienists in all branches of the service.

Mr. Walker

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House whether he has had any close consultation on this topic with the dental profession and whether the profession is in agreement with his general line of policy?

Mr. Robinson

Certainly there has been continued discussion about this with the profession. As the hon. Gentleman probably knows, the General Dental Council did make one report on the scheme for introducing dental auxiliaries. It reported in 1963, but stated that sufficient information was not available at the time to allow it to form a final opinion on the question.

Mr. Wood

Has the right hon. Gentleman given substantial thought to the general problem of using auxiliaries throughout the National Health Service in order to make the best use of the qualifications of those already in the Service?

Mr. Robinson

I am anxious to do this, but I am very anxious to carry the profession with me.