HC Deb 20 May 1997 vol 294 cc501-2
13. Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the number of NHS dentists. [416]

Mr. Milburn

This area is currently under review. Our main objective is to ensure that a comprehensive NHS dentistry service is available to all who wish to use it.

Mr. Prentice

I thank the Minister for that reply, which I found encouraging. May I remind him, however, that my area—Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale—has the worst dental health in England? The town of Barnoldswick, where I live, should have four NHS dentists but actually has only two and the figure is shortly to go down to one. That one dentist, Paul Hadfield, stopped taking NHS adult patients on 7 April. No one, not even the former Secretary of State for Health, could blame the present calamitous situation on the current Government, but I hope that the Minister will work energetically to do something about this dental desert in north-east Lancashire.

Mr. Milburn

I am aware of some of the problems in my hon. Friend's constituency, and not just in the areas that he has described. There are particular problems with treatment waiting times in towns such as Nelson, Burnley and Colne, which give us all cause for concern. As my hon. Friend will know, some resources are available to tackle such issues and I am considering how best to target them effectively.

Mr. Fabricant

As a former Treasury spokesman, the hon. Gentleman will be aware that his commitment will cost the economy and his Department money. In the light of that, does the hon. Gentleman agree with the candid comments made by the present Foreign Secretary when he was shadow Secretary of State for Health that a minimum wage would cost the health service £500 million? Was he right or was he wrong—yes or no?

Mr. Milburn

On the subject of NHS dentistry, I shall shortly be taking decisions on how best to use resources available to us under the access fund and on whether to press ahead with new dentistry pilots under the National Health Service (Primary Care) Act 1997 to ensure that dental services are sensitive to local circumstances.

Mr. Maxton

All Labour Members want to see more dentists working exclusively in the NHS, but does not the best way to achieve a dramatic improvement in the long-term dental health of the British people lie in ensuring that young people in their formative years receive the necessary intake of fluoride? Does my hon. Friend intend to hold urgent talks with health authorities and water companies to ensure that fluoride is added to the public water supply where necessary?

Mr. Milburn

There is much to commend water fluoridation in terms of its efficiency and effectiveness in tackling oral health problems. It is also an economical solution to such problems. I can promise my hon. Friend that I shall hold early discussions with the Minister responsible for public health on how best to deal with such issues.