§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
What contribution to the increase in the number of patients on hospital waiting lists has arisen as a result of patients being unable to obtain general anaesthesia in general dental practice. [HL1107]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hayman)The total number of patients on National Health Service hospital waiting lists in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland actually fell between the end of September 1998 and the end of December 1998 (the latest period for which United Kingdom figures are available). Recent guidance from the General Dental Council (published in early November 1998), on the administration of general anaesthesia in general dental practice is not expected materially to affect the number of patients on NHS hospital waiting lists.
§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of the ban on the use of general anaesthesia in general dental practice and the number of patients who require anaesthesia and 98WA sedation for dental treatment, they will make funds available for the postgraduate training of dentists in sedation skills. [HL1108]
§ Baroness HaymanThe delivery of general anaesthesia with dental treatment in general dental practice has not been prohibited. Money to enable postgraduate training of dentists in sedation skills, however, is already available through courses run under Section 63 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, as amended, and also within vocational training programmes.