HC Deb 13 June 2003 vol 406 cc372-5W
Mr. Hurst

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists there were per head of population in Essex in each year from 1990–2002. [115189]

Mr. Lammy

The available information is for the general dental service (GDS).

The information in the following table shows the number of GDS dentists per 100,000 population in the Essex area at September each year from 1990 to 2001 and at 31 December 2002. The number of dentists includes principals, assistants and vocational dental practitioners. Health authorities (HA) replaced the family health service authorities (FHSA) in 1996.

General Dental Service: Number of Dentists per 100,000 population1 in the Essex area, 1990–2002
Health authority Number of dentists per 100,000 population
Essex SHA
31 December 2002 33
North Essex and South Essex HA
30 September 2001 43
30 September 2000 43
30 September 1999 41
30 September 1998 40
30 September 1997 39
30 September 1996 37
Essex FHSA
30 September 1995 37
30 September 1994 37
30 September 1993 37
30 September 1992 35
30 September 1991 35
30 September 1990 34
1 1990–2001 ONS mid year population estimates based on the 1991 census.
Note:
2002 GP resident relevant population estimates constrained by the 2001 census

Patients who have difficulty accessing a high street dentist can receive national health service dental care from the community dental service (CDS). There is the equivalent of 13.5 full-time dentists working in the CDS in Essex.

There is a personal dental services pilot treating children in North Essex. Four dentists, four nurses, an oral health educator and a therapist work in the surgery.

Mr. Hurst

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population in Essex has been registered with an NHS dentist in each of the last 12 years. [115190]

Mr. Lammy

At 31 December 2002, 48.4 per cent. of the population of Essex Strategic Health Authority was registered with a general dental service (GDS) dentist. The information in the following table shows the percentage of the population registered with a GDS dentist in the Essex area, at September each year from 1991 to 2001.

General Dental Service: Percentage of the population registered with a GPS dentist in Essex, 1991–2001
Percentage of population registered with a GDS dentist
North Essex and South Essex HA
2001 59.0
2000 60.3
1999 59.0
1998 57.3
1997 64.2
1996 65.1
General Dental Service: Percentage of the population registered with a GPS dentist in Essex, 1991–2001
Percentage of population registered with a GDS dentist
Essex FHSA
1995 66.5
1994 69.5
1993 70.0
1992 68.6
1991 51.0
Note:
1991–2001 ONS mid year population estimates based on the 1991 census.

Registrations lapse if patients do not return to their dentist within 15 months and so the registration figures exclude patients who have not been to their GDS dentist within the past 15 months. Also excluded from the figures are patients who receive dental treatment from other national health service dental services including dental access centres.

Registration rates from 1998 onwards are not comparable with earlier rates because of reduction in registration periods to 15 months.

Registrations began in October 1990 and the September 1991 figure is low because registration numbers were building up.

Patients who have difficulty accessing a high street dentist can receive NHS dental care from the community dental service.

In addition, there is a personal dental services pilot in North Essex treating children only. 2,848 children were seen in the pilot in 2002–03.

Mr. Hoban

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were registered with NHS dentists in Hampshire in each year from 1997 to 2002. [115554]

Ms Blears

The table shows the number of registrations in the Hampshire area at 30 September in each of the years 1997 to 2002. The Hampshire area covers North and Mid Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire and Southampton and South West Hampshire

Registrations lapse if patients do not return to their dentists within 15 months. Registrations will exclude patients who haven't been to their general dental service (GDS) dentist within the past 15 months and patients who receive dental treatment from other National Health Service dental services.

The September 1997 figure is not comparable with the later figures because of change in the registration periods for adults and children. The figures do not include patients attending the dental access centres which opened during the period and whose patients are not registered.

Patients wishing to register with a GDS dentist can obtain details of dentists accepting new patients by contacting NHS Direct.

General Dental Service: Number of registrations in Hampshire area at 30 September 1997 to 2002
At 30 September Number of patients registered (thousands)
1997 951
1998 842
1999 823
2000 824
2001 818
2002 801

Mr. Hoban

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists treated NHS patients in Hampshire in each year from 1997 to 2002. [115555]

Ms Blears

The table shows the number of general dental service (CDS) dentists in Hampshire area at 30 September in each of the years 1997 to 2002. The Hampshire area covers North and Mid Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire and Southampton and South West Hampshire.

The number of dentist includes principals, assistants and vocational dental practitioners.

General Dental Service: Number of dentists, at 30 September 1997 to 2002 Hampsire (including Isle of Wight)
At 30 September Number of GDS dentists
1997 569
1998 601
1999 623
2000 628
2001 644
2002 647

These figures are on a headcount basis rather than whole time equivalent (wte) basis and therefore take no account of part time working. In the GDS, dentists can vary the amount of National Health Service work they do; many also do some private work.

Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the population of Leeds, West constituency was registered with a NHS dentist in each of the last five years. [116182]

Jacqui Smith

The information requested is shown in the table.

General Dental Service: percentage of the population registered with a NHS dentist, 1998 to 2002, in Leeds Health Authority
At 30 September Percentage population registered with a GDS dentist
1998 53.0
1999 52.5
2000 52.5
2001 51.5
2002 50.4
Note:
ONS mid-year population estimates based on the 2001 census.
Source:
Department of Health.

At 28 February 2003, 53.5 per cent. of the population for Leeds West Primary Care Trust (PCT) was registered with a general dentist service dentist.