Dental Checkups (Hansard, 20 March 1990)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hooper)
My Lords, it is not possible to provide this information in the precise form requested by the noble Baroness. The figures we have show that for England and Wales the total number of examinations for which fees were scheduled in the middle quarters of 1989 was 15.2 million compared with 15.4 million in the corresponding period in 1988.

§ Baroness Nicol
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Is she familiar with the survey that has recently been published by the Consumers' Association which shows very clearly that in the past year there has been a decrease in people paying dental visits? The people themselves say that that is because of higher charges and check-up fees. In view of the Government's commitment to preventive medicine, will they not reconsider the question of charges for checkups?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, the article in Which? magazine to which the noble Baroness refers reports that one in six people were put off going for checkups in 1989. On that basis we would expect to see a fall in the statistics of about 17 per cent. However, according to the statistics we have, that has definitely not happened. The dip in figures is about 6 per cent. We do not accept that that is a long-term trend.

§ Lord Gainford
My Lords, has my noble friend any information to show whether any dropping off that 193 has occurred recently with regard to people visiting national health dentists is a result of a possible surge in attendances in order to take advantage of the prices that existed before the recent increase?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, I think that my noble friend is perhaps seeking to make a comparison with the sight test charges. We cannot make a direct comparison there because people do not have their eyes tested as frequently as they visit the dentists. The evidence we have of the overall trend year on year is of a slight increase. As I have said, although we recognise there has been a slight dip we do not accept that it is a long-term trend.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that the figures she has given do not mean much to dental surgeons and other practitioners involved in dentistry? They are concerned about the long-term effects and what will happen to people who should have visited the dentist three years ago to have their teeth examined but who have not bothered because of the charges. Is the Minister prepared to consider that aspect of the matter as well?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, we are confident that most people accept the general principle that it is right for those who can afford to do so to pay a small amount for the care of their teeth. It must also be remembered in that context that for 40 per cent. of patients all National Health Service treatment is completely free— for example, for young people under 18, students, pregnant women and those receiving income support. As I said, we do not accept that a long-term trend has been established. We believe that the proposals in the new dentists' contract will also contribute to improving vastly the service that is being offered.

§ Lord Ennals
My Lords, can the Minister explain why the figures that she gave were so different from the figures given by her honourable friend Mr. Freeman in another place on 20th February, which showed a fall from 7-9 million examinations to 7-4 million examinations? Can she explain why there were half a million fewer examinations than before the charges were introduced? Will she also say what she thinks of the views of the dentists themselves and the BDA that people are waiting until they have trouble with their teeth before going for an examination? Finally, can she give an assurance that in April we shall not see a further increase in examination charges?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, the figures that I quoted represented the two middle quarters of last year. The figures quoted by my honourable friend, which the noble Lord has mentioned, are those for the final quarter of last year. The diminution from 7-9 to 7-4 million took place in the final quarter of last year. The figures differ from those quoted by the noble Baroness because our records show when dentists were paid for check-ups, which is usually some time after the check-ups took place.

§ Lord Ennals
My Lords, is the Minister really saying that the figures that were quoted in another place, which showed a reduction of half a million examinations, were the most recent figures, although she gave different figures which showed a much smaller reduction? Why?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, the noble Lord can be happy because he now has all the figures before him.

§ Baroness Nicol
My Lords, instead of juggling the figures can we not accept the word of 40 per cent. of dentists interviewed who said that the number of patients attending their surgeries has decreased dramatically? Can we not also accept that the patients themselves say that that is because of higher charges and check-up fees?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, I cannot accept that the slight dip that has been indicated by our figures represents a dramatic decrease.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that she has not answered my question? Will she please consider speaking to the British Dental Association in order to get the facts straight so that the right action can be taken?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, we are frequently in consultation with the representatives of the dentists and their various professional bodies. That is particularly so in the case of the new contracts which are proposed for dentists and which we believe will introduce very important changes to the benefit of patients.