§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether dentists were given advanced notice of the Department of Health's recent announcement on the use of amalgam fillings during pregnancy; and, if not, why not. [HL1810]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonA joint letter from the Chief Dental Officer and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer was dispatched on 29 April to dental practices listed with health authorities, and a press briefing arranged for 30 April. Unauthorised information about the letter's contents was given to Radio Scotland and appeared in the media on 29 April. To provide an accurate response to media enquiries, the department therefore brought forward the announcement by a day.
Copies of the letter have been placed in the Library.
§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether all general practitioners, community dentists, hospital dentists, dentists who teach in dental schools and private practitioners have now been circulated with the information contained in the Department of Health's announcement on the use of amalgam fillings during pregnancy. [HL1811]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonA joint letter from the Chief Dental Officer and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer was sent on 29 April to general medical and general dental practices registered to provide National Health Service treatment, and to the chief executives of hospital and community trusts with a request that they notify dental staff. Subsequently copies of the letter were sent to dental schools and details of the announcement put on an electronic network used by health authorities (EPINET) and the Internet. The 131WA department has responded to enquiries from private dentists by sending them a copy of the letter.
Copies of the letter have also been placed in the Library.