§ Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in Bolton treated NHS patients in(a) 1997, (b) 1996, (c) 1995, (d) 1994 and (e) 1993; and how many dentists treated only private patients in each of those years. [41895]
§ Mr. MilburnFor 31 March 1997, information is available for the Wigan and Bolton Health Authority, and in previous years for the former Wigan and the former Bolton Family Health Services Authorities. This information is shown in the table. These dentists will have varying levels of commitment to the National Health Service. No information is available for the number of dentists treating private patients only.
General dental service: number of dentists1 in Bolton and Wigan Family Health Services Authorities (FHSA) at 31 March 1993 to 1996 and Wigan and Bolton Health Authority at 31 March 1997 Year Bolton FHSA Wigan FHSA Wigan and Bolton Health Authority 1993 74 87 — 1994 81 95 — 19952 75 87 — 19962 81 95 — 19972 — — 174 1Includes principals, assistants and vocational trainees on health authority lists 2The figures for 31 March 1995 onwards may be reduced by the effect of the lengthening of the degree course for dental students. Prior to this newly qualified dentists would appear in March figures each year but from 1995 these dentists graduated later and joined health authority lists after March each year
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of elderly people are liable to pay patient charges for dental treatment; and how much revenue is raised annually through dental charges to those of pensionable age(a) in Coventry and (b) in England. [42478]
§ Mr. MilburnAbout 80 per cent. of people aged 65 and over are liable to pay full or partial charges for National Health Service dental treatment. It is estimated that some 351W £65 million in patient charge revenue was raised in England from patients aged 65 and over in 1997–98. This estimate is based on a sample of patient claims for April 1998. Corresponding information is not available for Coventry.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in(a) the West Midlands and (b) Coventry are registered with a dental practice. [42476]
§ Mr. MilburnThe table sets out figures for the number of patients registered with a General Dental Service dentist in the National Health Service Executive West Midlands Regional Office area and in Coventry Health Authority at 31 March 1998.
General Dental Service: number of patients registered in the NHS Executive West Midlands Regional Office area, and Coventry Health Authority at 31 March 1998 Adults Children West Midlands 1,930,423 723,700 Coventry 119,680 42,326
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will restore the re-registration period for dental services to 24 months. [42477]
§ Mr. MilburnWe have no plans to review this policy, which will improve value for money by focusing payments to dentists on those patients receiving active care from them.
From 1 April, £10 million of the resources released has been targeted at young children in poorer areas, adults requiring full dentures and to encourage dentists to provide continuing care to their patients including emergency treatment.