§ Mr. HAYESasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that when a, member of the National Health Insurance submits an estimate for dental treatment which includes the administration of a general anæsthetic, the National Amalgamated Approved Society questions the dentist upon this treatment and demands to be advised why the extraction cannot be made under a local anæsthetic; and whether, in the interests of the patients, he will recommend to approved societies the desirability of discontinuing the practice of questioning professional treatment?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am not aware of the practice of the particular society referred to in the first part of the question, but I understand that the Dental Benefit Joint Committee, by whom the scale of fees and conditions of service were negotiated, have at present under consideration the question of the right of a patient to choose the anæsthetic to be used in his case. Pending the Committee's decision, I do not propose to take any steps in the matter.