HL Deb 02 November 1992 vol 539 cc1313-4

3.27 p.m.

Lord Desai asked Her Majesty's Government:

What will he the availability of NHS treatment for patients compulsorily removed from dentists' patients lists after 1st October 1992.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)

My Lords, a well-established feature of the 1990 dental contract was that where a patient has not sought, or indeed a dentist has not offered, to extend the continuing care arrangement, it lapses after two years. Such patients can seek registration with another NHS dentist. Many will already have done so.

Lord Desai

My Lords, perhaps I may thank the Minister for that Answer. However, can she tell us how many people are currently at risk of being deregistered as a result of this change?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, it is a rolling programme. Clearly, those who have been registered for two years are now coming off the list. There is no danger that they will get no treatment because they will then be able to re-register with the same dentist or indeed choose another.

Lord Carter

My Lords, is the Minister aware that the British Dental Association has estimated that the loss of patients from the register is of the order of 1 million a month? Is she also aware that the total of the Government's spending on NHS dental treatment has declined since July when the Government imposed a fee cut on dentists, and that nearly half of the dentists are now refusing to take on any more new patients under the NHS? Does that not mean that there must be an increasing number of patients who are now having to seek treatment in the private sector?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, no. In fact, on 16th October 1992 only 84 dentists in England had notified their family health services authority of their wish to withdraw from the NHS. That is less than half a per cent. of the total.

Baroness Gardner of Parkes

My Lords, will the Minister confirm that, in the Barking area, for example, the community health council believes that 2,000 people will be deregistered by their dentists and that there are no National Health Service dentists at all in Braintree at the moment? Is she further aware that the regional health authorities covering these areas are trying to look into alternative means of providing national health dentistry, possibly by a salaried service?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, I appreciate that there are certain pockets of difficulty. It is up to the regional health authorities and the family health services authorities to grasp this issue. Indeed, FHSAs have a duty to make arrangements for the provision of general dental services. Of course, it is open to them to consider the need for a salaried dentist if they feel that that is appropriate.

Lord Carter

My Lords, the Minister has referred to the number of dentists who have left the NHS, but I referred to the number who, while retaining their existing patients in the NHS, are refusing to take on any more, which is very different from what she said.

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, I think that I have put it quite clearly: that less than half a per cent. of dentists have refused to take on National Health Service patients in the future.