§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Since the beginning of the new Dental Contract, how many dentists in the London area:
50WA
- (a) have ceased to offer treatment on the NHS;
- (b) are still offering normal treatment on the NHS;
- (c) have reduced the range of treatment they offer on the NHS.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hooper)Information is not available to make a direct comparison of the services dentists were offering before the introduction of the new dental contract with the services they are offering now. However, according to a recent sample survey of dentists by family health services authorities:
- —63 per cent. of dentists in Greater London are currently offering NHS treatment to all patients;
- —31 per cent. of dentists in Greater London are being selective in their acceptance of NHS patients.
In Greater London out of a total of 2,849 dentists there was a net decrease of 120 (-4.2 per cent.) dentists offering NHS treatment between 30th September 1990 and 30th September 1991.