§ Mr. Ronnie CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in practice in south-east Northumberland(a) take NHS patients and (b) took private patients only but took NHS patients until 1990.
§ Dr. MawhinneyAt 30 September 1993 the number of dentists in the general dental service in the Northumberland family health services authority area, which includes south-east Northumberland, was 101. The comparable number at 30 September 1990 was 103. Dentists are independent contractors who make their own decisions about whether to accept patients under national health service arrangements.
§ Ms CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many dental surgeons in the Bristol area provide treatment under Denplan and other dental care schemes, for the last three years for which figures are available;
159W(2) how many dental surgeons were operating exclusively within the NHS in the Bristol area for the last three years for which figures are available;
(3) what percentage of dental costs in the Bristol area have been met (a) privately and (b) publicly for the years 1979, 1984, 1989 and each year since.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThis information is not available centrally. Dentists are independent contractors and free to choose whether or not to accept an individual patient, or category of patients, for national health service treatment and to review their decisions at any time.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the deregistered dental patients failed to get reregistered in the last year for which figures are available.
§ Dr. MawhinneyIt is not possible to identify whether particular patients have sought reregistration but overall the number of adult patients registered has increased significantly since July 1992. All family health services authorities report that patients approaching them for help in obtaining national health service treatment can be assisted.