Dentists (Hansard, 24 June 2002)

§ Dr. Fox
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have ceased to perform NHS work since 1 May 1997; and what the net effect of this has been on the NHS budget. [62647]

§ Mr. Lammy
The available information is for the number of dentists leaving the general dental service (GDS) in England and is shown in the table for the years 1997–98 to 2001–02.
The number of leavers covers all reasons for leaving the GDS including final retirement from dental work and dentists taking career breaks as well as those who left to practice solely privately. Figures from 1998–99 onwards are inflated by the transfer of some dentists from the GDS to some personal dental service (PDS) pilots. The total number of dentists includes principals on a health authority list, assistants and vocational dental practitioners.
736W
The effect on the national health service budget of those dentists leaving the GDS cannot be estimated because the dentists left for a variety of reasons.
Since 1997–98 more dentists have joined than left. The number of GDS dentists has increased from 16,387 at March 1997 to 18,254 in March 2002, an increase of 1,867. Dentists are able to vary the amount of work they do in the GDS.

General dental service (GDS): number of dentists who left the
GDS from 1997–98 to 2001–02

England

Principals Assistants Vocational
trainees
Total

1997–98 738 85 77 900

1998–99¹ 761 106 105 972

1999–2000¹ 780 157 95 1,032

2000–01¹ 875 181 136 1,192

2001–02¹ 859 193 164 1.216

¹ Figures affected by the transfer of some dentists from the GDS to
the PDS.

§ Dr. Fox
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) children and (b) adults are registered with an NHS dentist within Leicestershire health authority; and what percentage of people covered by Leicestershire health authority are registered with an NHS dentist. [62646]

§ Mr. Lammy
Arrangements are now in place to ensure that patients can gain access to national health service services by calling NHS Direct. This means that even if a patient chooses not to register with a dentist it will still be possible for that patient to access all forms of dentistry that are provided by the NHS.
The number of children and adults registered with a general dental service (GDS) dentist and the percentage of population registered with a GDS dentist in Leicestershire is shown in the table at 30 April 2002.

General dental service: number of patients registered and
percentage of population¹ registered with a GDS dentist in 2002

Leicestershire²

At 30 April 2002 Number of patients
registered thousands
Population registered
percentage

Total 458.4 49

Adults 321.5 45

Children 136.9 63

¹ ONS 2000 mid year population estimates based on the 1991
census.

² From 1 April 2002, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland
health authority has assumed responsibilities for the previous
Leicestershire health authority.

General dental service (GDS): number of dentists who left the GDS from 1997–98 to 2001–02
England
	Principals	Assistants	Vocational trainees	Total
1997–98	738	85	77	900
1998–99¹	761	106	105	972
1999–2000¹	780	157	95	1,032
2000–01¹	875	181	136	1,192
2001–02¹	859	193	164	1.216
¹ Figures affected by the transfer of some dentists from the GDS to the PDS.

General dental service: number of patients registered and percentage of population¹ registered with a GDS dentist in 2002
Leicestershire²
At 30 April 2002	Number of patients registered thousands	Population registered percentage
Total	458.4	49
Adults	321.5	45
Children	136.9	63
¹ ONS 2000 mid year population estimates based on the 1991 census.
² From 1 April 2002, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland health authority has assumed responsibilities for the previous Leicestershire health authority.