HC Deb 09 May 1972 vol 836 cc1113-4
9. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has for the development of National Health Service dental services; and in particular whether he intends to maintain the full list of dental treatments now on the schedule.

Sir K. Joseph

When I met representatives of the British Dental Association on 16th March they accepted my invitation to participate in a Joint Working Party with representatives of the Health Departments to consider how best, having regard to the availability of resources, to secure the long-term development and improvement of National Health Service dental services. The first meeting of the Working Party will be held on 19th May. I have no proposals for restricting the range of treatments available under the General Dental Services.

Mrs Short

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, but may I remind him that there is an urgent need in many parts of the country for National Health Service dentists—I have raised this with him before—and that from the last amending regulations, produced earlier this year, it is quite clear that some of the new fees being paid to dentists, especially for restorative work, bear no relation to the amount of work they must do with the patient, and should be revised? In particular, where work must be put out to dental technicians the return for the dentist is minimal. This does not encourage more students to enter the profession. Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the matter?

Sir K. Joseph

I should be grateful it the hon. Lady would put down a precise Question on the points which she has in mind. In general, because I am worried about the distribution of dentists, I have embarked on talks with the profession. The numbers of dental places and students in schools are rising.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

Does my right hon. Friend agree that in some parts of England, particularly Derbyshire, there is a grave shortage of dentists in the National Health Service? My constituents find it extremely difficult to obtain dental treatment. Will he use his utmost endeavours to see that the supply of dentists going into the National Health Service is increased as rapidly as possible?

Sir K. Joseph

The dental schools are expanding under the policies of previous Governments, and the present Government are continuing the expansion. There will be rising numbers of dentists, but there is a big problem of distribution, which I am discussing.