§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he has given to the payment of a salary to dentists practising under the National Health Service instead of the present system of payment.
§ Mr. MoyleThe concept of a totally salaried general dental service is not new. There are advantages and disadvantages in both the current fee for item of service system and in payment by salary. However, of these two alternatives the balance at the moment remains in favour of the fee based system which on the one hand helps to preserve practitioners' independent status and on the other provides the NHS with a cost effective service. The fee-based system has been in existence since the start of the NHS and has had the continuous support of the profession's representatives, the British Dental Association, with which any fundamental changes would of course have to be agreed. I understand that the great164W majority of general dental practitioners prefer the present system although the option exists for dentists to practise on a salaried basis in health centres if they wish.