§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many full-time salaried dentists the Gwynedd family health service authority are authorised to employ; how many are in post; and how many he expects will be in post on 1 January 1995.
§ Mr. RichardsThe Gwynedd family health services authority has permission to employ the full-time equivalent of four salaried dentists. Currently, one salaried dentist is employed for three days per week.
Recruitment of suitable personnel to fill the approved posts is the responsibility of the authority. The Welsh Office is funding the advertising costs of the recruitment campaign.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many NHS patients have been deregistered by dentists in the last year in each of the health districts in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RichardsThe information supplied by family health services authorities, shows that the numbers of patients deregistered by their dentists during the period 4 December 1993 to 2 December 1994 are as follows:
Adults Children Total Clwyd 6,737 49 6,786 Dyfed 2,754 2 2,756 Gwent 2,817 0 2,817 Gwynedd 2,597 0 2,597 Mid Glamorgan 567 0 567 Powys 0 0 0 South Glamorgan 1,820 25 1,845 West Glamorgan 44 0 44 Total 17,336 76 17,412 This information is supplied for management purposes only and is not statistically validated.
The latest statistics available from the Dental Practice Board indicate that the number of patients registered with a dentist in Wales at 30 September 1994 was only 0.75 per cent. less than that for 30 September 1993.