§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many orthodontists are employed by the(a) Gateshead and South Tyneside Health Authority and (b) NHS; and what the equivalent figure was (i) five, (ii) 10 and (iii) 15 years ago. [148397]
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§ Mr. HuttonThe number of General Dental Service dentists with more than 100 orthodontic claims in a year is shown in the table for the years 1999–2000, 1995–96 and 1992–93 for Gateshead and South Tyneside Health Authority and for England.
General Dental Service: Number of orthodontists1 Gateshead and South Tyneside Health Authority England 1992–93 0 466 1995–96 2 647 1999–2000 1 825 Notes:
1. An orthodontist is defined here as a principal dentist who submitted a hundred or more orthodontic claims in a year.
2. Some dentists may be included in both the General Dental Service and the Hospital and community health service figures.
§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to improve the National Orthodontal Service(a) within the NHS and (b) in the Gateshead and South Tyneside Health Authority. [148415]
§ Mr. HuttonWe are taking steps to ensure that dentists throughout the country can identify the appropriate cases for treatment, use the most clinically effective and cost-effective approach and maintain high standards of probity in providing orthodontic services. This will concentrate National Health Service resources more on the cases of true clinical need and less on minor cosmetic work.
§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting times are for orthodontal treatment in the Gateshead and South Tyneside health authority. [148418]
§ Mr. HuttonOrthodontic services in the Gateshead and South Tyneside health authority area are provided by the Community Dental Service of the South Tyneside health care national health service trust. The waiting time for a first appointment is currently 11 weeks.