§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to exchange hospital and general practitioners in dentistry.
§ Dr. OwenThe question of such plans does not arise, since already a part-time hospital dentist may arrange to provide general dental services outside the hospital service and a general dental practitioner may undertake part-time clinical work in hospital in an appropriate hospital grade.
§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many dentists are employed: (a) full-time and (b) part-time in the school dental service.
§ Dr. OwenIt is not possible to identify the number of dentists employed solely in the school dental service as these officers also devote some of their time—about 5 per cent.—to the dental care of mothers and young children.
The numbers employed in the school and priority services in England and Wales at 30th September 1975 were (a) 1,197 full-time and (b) 956 part-time. The whole-time equivalent of all staff was 1,485. There were, in addition, 98 administrative dental officers in post, a major part of whose duties are concerned with the adminstration of the school dental service.
§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he 133W has to encourage preventive dentistry among recent school leavers.
§ Dr. OwenAs I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Brotherton) on 12th April, a great deal of information about preventive dentistry is available from dentists and other sources.
I recognise, however, that there is a particular problem about continuing dental care when a child leaves school. I expect that the Child Health Services Committee will have something to say on this and I am meantime awaiting its report.—[Vol. 909, c. 419.]