§ Mr. Weetchasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what percentage of total treatment costs is currently borne by the average patient treated in the general dental services;
(2) what percentage of current chargeable treatment costs is borne by the average patient in the general dental services.
§ Mrs. CurrieIt is estimated that the average patient who pays charges pays about 55 per cent. of total treatment costs (including items such as check-ups which are free to everyone) and 65 per cent. of the cost of chargeable items of treatment.
§ Mr. Weetchasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he has received any representations on changing to a proportional system for calculating patients' charges in the general dental services; whether he has any plans to introduce such charges; and whether he will make a statement;
118W(2) whether he has made any calculations of the necessary proportional charge for dental treatment which would be needed to produce the equivalent level of current revenue; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieCharges for routine dental treatment are already based on a proportion of the costs. We have received representations in favour of a wholly proportional system from the British Dental Association, the General Dental Practitioners' Association and from individual dentists. The possibility of changing to such a system was raised in "Primary Health Care—an Agenda for Discussion" (Cmnd. 9771). Comments on proposals in the document are currently being considered.
If a system of wholly proportional charges had been introduced on 1 April 1986 a charge of 71 per cent. for courses of treatment commenced on or after that date would have been needed to raise the current level of revenue.