HC Deb 07 March 1978 vol 945 cc1216-8
20. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to ensure there is enough NHS dentistry available for those who need it.

Mr. Ennals

The increasing number of dentists being added to the Dentists Register each year provides the basis for continuing improvement in National Health Service dental services.

Mrs. Short

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are certain parts of the country where no NHS dentistry is available, not even for emergencies? I have evidence of patients who have been asked to pay £200 for bridging and £450 for capping teeth. Does he not think that that is a scandalous situation, especially when we are supposed to provide complete NHS dentistry for all patients who need it?

Mr. Ennals

Yes, I think that it is disgraceful. My hon. Friend will know, that I have no power of compulsion with regard to which patients a dentist will treat and what services he will provide. I made it clear earlier—and I have done so publicly—that I deeply deplore the decision of some dentists to limit the amount of NHS service which they are prepared to give. It is encouraging that there is a steadily increasing number of dentists providing services, and an increasing number of treatments, under the NHS.

Mr. Nelson

Does the Secretary of State also accept that the long-term aim should be to provide a greater degree of preventive dentistry, as opposed to corrective dentistry, under the NHS? In particular, will he give greater impetus to the possibility of providing voluntary fluoride treatment such as fissure sealants and topical applications under the NHS?

Mr. Ennals

I very much agree with the hon. Gentleman, and I would go much further. He will know that the vast majority of area health authorities have now given their approval to fluoridation. I only wish that it was now possible for health authorities to fulfil these recommendations in order that the whole country can benefit.

Mr. Pavitt

Does my right hon. Friend recall that in April 1976 my working party submitted 37 recommendations and at the same time was able to show that if they were all implemented we would have precisely the same problems about the dentistry provisions under the NHS? In view of this, will he now take the dust off the file and try to implement some of those recommendations?

Mr. Ennals

The recommendations made by my hon. Friend's working party were of very great value. Some of them have been implemented, but I shall have a look at them again to see whether further action can be taken.

Dr. Vaughan

Why does the Secretary of State condemn the dentists but not the hospital porters?

Mr. Ennals

The hon. Gentleman knows very well the position that I have taken with regard to industrial action in the Health Service, whether it applies to doctors, nurses or others who work in the Health Service. Fortunately, the vast majority of those who work in the NHS recognise that when they take industrial action they are taking it against the interests of patients.