§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ratio was of NHS general dental practitioners to population; and how many NHS general dental practitioners there were in(a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire in each year since 1 January 1996. [85135]
§ Mr. Lammy[holding answer 3 December 2002]: The number of general dental service (GDS) practitioners in Buckinghamshire health authority (HA) area at 30 September and the ratio of GDS practitioners per 100,000 population is shown in the table for the years 1996 to 2001.
The number of GDS dentists and ratio of dentists per population in Chesham and Amersham are not centrally available.
The total number of GDS dentists covers principals on a HA list, their assistants and vocational dental practitioners.
905W
General dental services: Number1 of GDS dentists at 30 September and ratio of GDS practitioners per 100,000 population2, 1996 to 2001—Buckinghamshire health authority. Number of dentists Year At 30 September Per 100,000 population 1996 238 35.4 1997 265 39.1 1998 260 38.1 1999 281 40.8 2000 272 39.3 2001 294 42.8 1 Dentists are principals on a HA list, assistants and vocational dental practitioners. 2 ONS 1996 to 2000 mid year population estimates based on the 1991 census. ONS 2001 mid year population estimate is based on 2001 census; using a population estimate based on 1991 census would change the 2001 dentists per 100,000 population figure to 42.0.