HC Deb 09 February 1982 vol 17 cc340-1W
68. Mrs. Faith

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what he expects to be the total amount of prescription and dental charges in 1981–82.

Dr. Vaughan

The estimated income from prescription and dental charges in the family practitioner services is expected to be £88 million and £118 million respectively.

71. Mr. Mike Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the changes in dental charges to the patient since April 1975, indicating for each type of charge the amount and percentage of increase and any new groups for whom charges have been newly levied.

56. Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what have been the percentage increases in dental charges since May 1979.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

NHS dental check-ups, repairs to dentures, stopping bleeding, home visits, and calling a dentist out in an emergency are free for everyone.

Subject to the exemption and remission provisions, patients have paid charges for other treatment as follows:

i. Up to 1 January 1976: Half the cost of treatment up to a maximum of £10 per course of treatment

Dental charges applying to courses of treatment commenced on or after
1 April 1977 16 July 1979 1 April 1980 1 April 1981
£ £ (per cent.) £ (per cent.) £ (per cent.)
Maximum charge for routine treatment 5 7(40) 8(60) 9(80)
Special treatment
(crowns, inlays, pinlays and gold fillings), charge per tooth restored 10 12(20) 18(80) 20(100)
Appliances
Synthetic resin dentures
replacing 1 to 3 teeth 10 12(20) 18(80) 19(90)
4 to 8 teeth 11 13(18) 19(73) 20(82)
more than 8 teeth 12 14(17 20(67) 21(75)
maximum for more than one denture 20 24(20) 30(50) 33(65)
Metal dentures (including bridges)
replacing 1 to 3 teeth 15 18(20) 25(67) 29(93)
4 to 8 teeth 16 19(19) 27(69) 31(94)
more than one tooth 17 20(18) 29(71) 33(94)
maximum for more than
one denture (or bridge) 30 36(20) 50(67) 58(93)
Overall maximum charge
for a course of treatment 30 36(20) 54(80) 60(100)

The figures in parentheses represent the percentage increases since 1 April 1977. It is not possible to compute percentage increases for periods starting before that date because of the different charges structures in force then.

On 1 April 1981 charges were introduced for those aged 18 and over, except that full-time students under 19 remained exempt as before.