§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he intends to take to stop people in dentistry from leaving the NHS; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellOur recent survey showed that 76 per cent. of dentists routinely accept all patients for NHS treatment, and 85 per cent. accept all children. There were always some dentists who provided a mixed service but prior to the registration of patients, as required by the 1990 dental contract, we had no means of checking the numbers. There are currently 25 per cent. more dentists practising in the general dental services in England than there were in 1979.