HL Deb 22 July 1991 vol 531 cc623-4

12.57 a.m.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hooper) rose to move, That the draft order laid before the House on 21st June be approved [23rd Report from the Joint Committee].

The noble Baroness said: My Lords, Section 45 of the Dentists Act 1984 provides that the General Dental Council may make regulations establishing classes of dental auxiliary, prescribing the dental work that they may undertake and the conditions under which they may undertake that work. The relevant regulations are the Dental Auxiliaries Regulations 1986, which establish a class of dental hygienists and apply both to dental hygienists providing national health services in the community and in hospital dental services and to dental hygienists working in general or private dental practice.

All dental hygienists receive similar training, and the role of dental hygienists maintained by the General Dental Council does not distinguish between them. Those working in the national health services have been permitted to carry out certain kinds of dental work under the direction of a registered dentist who has examined the patient and who has indicated to the dental hygienist what treatment should be provided, without the need for direct personal supervision by the dentist. Dental hygienists employed in general dental practice or in private dental practice, however, have not been allowed to undertake any dental work unless they are personally supervised by a dentist.

The General Dental Council takes the view that that situation should be rectified. Apart from removing an obvious anomaly, there is a growing need for dental hygienists to undertake domiciliary visits, particularly to elderly people. Removing the direct personal supervision requirement for dental hygienists in general or private dental practice, where in fact 77 per cent. of them are employed, would allow them to provide an improved service to their patients. It is therefore intended to amend the regulations to remove the anomaly. To do that it is necessary to repeal Section 46(3) of the Dentists Act 1984 and to delete the words: in the course of the provision of national health services", in Section 46(2). The draft order makes those two amendments and requires the approval of your Lordships. The draft order prepared by the General Dental Council has been approved by the Privy Council. On their behalf, I commend it to noble Lords.

Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 21st June be approved [23rd Report from the Joint Committee].—(Baroness Hooper.)

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, in his absence, my noble friend Lord Ennals has authorised me to say that he has no objection to this order.

On Question, Motion agreed to.