§ 1. Mr. Simon Thomas (Ceredigion)What recent discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales in relation to NHS dentistry. [90189]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Mr. David Lammy)Officials from the Department of Health continue to have a regular dialogue with the National Assembly in relation to NHS dentistry.
§ Mr. Simon ThomasI am grateful to know that the dialogue is still ongoing. Is the Minister aware that just 31 per cent. of the population in my constituency are registered with an NHS dentist? That is the lowest figure ever, since the NHS dentistry system came in. According to figures released last week, we also have the highest rates of lip and mouth cancer registered in Wales at European level. The Select Committee on Health report on NHS dentistry published in March 2001 identified the scale of charges for NHS dentists as the main obstacle to increased access to NHS dentistry. What is the Department doing to change that scale of charges to encourage more dentists to come into the NHS and to ensure that we pay them not just for the treatment that they provide but for the preventive care that they undertake?
§ Mr. LammyThe hon. Gentleman rightly points out that the Welsh Assembly is responsible for dentistry in Wales. The Assembly has rightly set out its reform agenda under "Routes to Reform". Like us, it is also examining how local commissioning can be taken forward, and our "Options for Change" document is a vision for that local commissioning.
§ Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore)Without wishing to cast a slur on the whole dentistry profession, I wonder whether the Minister would agree with a colleague of mine, my dentist, who primarily treats NHS patients, that there is a problem with the motivation of many of 528 those now coming into dentistry? We need to encourage more of those who have an ethical reason to be there, rather than simply a financial one.
§ Mr. LammyMy hon. Friend makes a good point. It is key that dentists should be able to move away from the piecework and methods of payment that we have had in the past. My hon. Friend will know that we intend to put proposals before Parliament to change the structure to ensure local commissioning by primary care trusts. I believe that that will empower dentists to move in the direction that they and the British Dental Association want.