§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what percentage of the total cost of general dental service treatment was derived from patient charges in each of the years 1978 to 1986 inclusive;
(2) what percentage of the total cost of National Health Service ophthalmic services was derived from patient charges in each of the years 1978 to 1986 inclusive.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe information requested is available only in relation to financial years and is set out in the table.
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Percentage of total cost of services met by patients charges, England1 Year General Dental services General Optical services 1978–79 20 34 1979–80 21 31 1980–81 22 28 1981–82 24 26 1982–83 26 219 1983–84 27 27 1984–85 27 25 1985–86 30 38 1986–87 30 — Notes 1 Figures rounded to nearest whole number. 2 Charges fell as percentage of cost on account of arrears payments of fees to opticians. 3 The supply of NHS spectacles was discontinued from this year for those who paid charges.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will increase the payment scale of National Health Service dentures to ensure that elderly people can be provided with well-fitting, good quality dentures.
§ Mrs. CurrieUnder their NHS terms of service general dental practitioners must supply dentures which fit properly and which are made of first-class quality materials, fit for their purpose. The fees payable are reviewed regularly to ensure that dentists are remunerated sufficiently to meet these requirements for patients of any age.
Number of notifications of acute and meningococcal meningitis England and Wales, Standard regions, 1984 to 1987 Area 1984 1985 1986 11987 A M A M A M A M ENGLAND AND WALES 1,230 401 1,531 549 2,172 870 2,567 1,090 North 44 17 56 20 127 59 153 73 Yorkshire and Humberside 208 32 242 52 368 117 376 125 East Midlands 70 25 88 37 129 53 132 64 East Anglia 38 16 61 20 49 15 58 19 South East 379 135 453 191 576 225 846 332 South West 92 29 137 44 169 82 191 84 West Midlands 98 37 125 49 237 93 280 105 North West 223 76 285 97 370 159 390 215 Wales 78 34 84 39 147 67 139 73 1 Provisional. A = Acute meningitis (all forms).
M = Meningococcal Meningitis.