§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether it is his policy that patients, by phoning NHS Direct, are given the details of(a) an emergency dental service and (b) an NHS dental practitioner with whom they can register; [81672]
(2) what his policy is on the (a) distance and (b) journey time that patients should travel as a maximum to reach (i) a general dental practitioner, (ii) a general medical practitioner, (iii) an emergency dentist and (iv) an accident and emergency unit. [81895]
§ Mr. Lammy[holding answer 19 November 2002]Patients wishing to access national health service dentistry are advised to contact NHS Direct where they will be informed of sources of treatment within locally agreed standards. During 2001 each health authority set its own standards for how far patients should have to travel for treatment depending on whether the requirement was for emergency or urgent treatment or routine access and whether the patient was based in a rural or urban area. These standards took into account local travel patterns. Primary care trusts have now assumed responsibilities for these standards.
NHS Direct may also be able to inform patients of dental practitioners with whom they can register.
There is no maximum travel time or distance set for registering with a general practitioner, but patients are required to reside within the practice area of the GP with whom they wish to register. Most people prefer to register with a GP near to where they live and travel times and distances are generally short except in some remote or rural areas.
It is for health authorities and primary care trusts to plan the provision of local health services including the provision and location of emergency services. There is no maximum travel time or distance set for access to an accident and emergency unit.