§ 32. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will inquire into the practices adopted by some dental practitioners of administering intravenous anaesthetics without the attendance of any other suitably qualified person; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CrossmanI have already received advice on this subject in a report on dental anaesthesia by a joint subcommittee of my Standing Dental and Medical Advisory Committees. This concludes that the practice of a dental surgeon acting as his own anaesthetist is to be deprecated, irrespective of the 23 method of induction he employs. Consultations with the British Dental Association on the action to be taken are in progress.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsIn saying how grateful I am to the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I also say that I share his anxiety and that of many other people about some of the existing practices and that I shall look forward to hearing what he has to say at a later date?