§ 24. Mr. Allasonasked the Secretary of State for Social Sarvices what steps he takes to inform dental patients that unless a fresh agreement for National Health Service treatment is made at the beginning of each course of treatment, the patient may find himself liable for private fees for that treatment.
§ Dr. John DunwoodyThe leaflet issued by my Department on dental treatment 815 under the National Health Service already makes it clear that a separate arrangement is necessary for each course of treatment and the revised edition which is now being ordered will add a reference to liability for private fees when such an arrangement is not made.
§ Mr. AllasonWill these pamphlets be on public display in dentists' waiting rooms'? Is it not highly unsatisfactory that mere silence on either side can result in heavy bills for National Health Service patients?
§ Dr. DunwoodyWe will be making these pamphlets available to both doctors and dentists who are willing to place them in their waiting rooms. I hope that dentists will place them in their waiting rooms so that patients understand their position. If we have any considerable amount of evidence that patients are still in ignorance, we might have to review the question of the distribution of these pamphlets.
§ Mr. John MendelsonWould it not be better to ask dentists and their staff to point out to each patient what the position is? I have just returned from the dentist. I had to have explained to me this morning that it means 30s. for each course of treatment. It is much safer to have it explained personally than to put it into a leaflet. Dr. Dunwoody: I agree that it helps to have it explained personally. Nevertheless, I believe that leaflets have a real part to play. We should use both methods—and indeed other methods—to ensure that patients understand the position.