Dentistry (Hansard, 10 March 2004)

§ Mr. Swire
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the scale of charges to patients using NHS dentists is. [155306]
1599W

§ Ms Rosie Winterton
National health service dental charges are subject to the National Health Service (Dental Charges) Regulations 1989. as amended. Under the current arrangements, those patients liable to pay a charge are required to make a contribution to the cost of their treatment equal to 80 per cent. of the dentist's item of services fees. These fees and their related patient charges are set out in the Statement of Dental Remuneration available at http://www.dh.gov.uk/ assetRoot/04/01/93/20/04019320.pdf. This can also be found in the Statement of Dental Remuneration, Amendment No. 91 a copy of which is available in the Library.
Currently about 24 per cent. of NHS adult patients are exempt from charges or qualify for a reduced charge. Children and certain other groups are exempt from charges.

§ Tim Loughton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when information relating to dentists in Adur, Arun and Worthing was last updated by NHS Direct on the NHS website. [156048]

§ Ms Rosie Winterton
The Department does not collect information regarding updates on dentists made by NHS Direct. However, I am advised by NHS Direct that primary care trusts have a system in place for updating information about dentists on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk. I understand this was last updated in February 2004 for Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT.

§ Tim Loughton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health which dental surgeries are taking on non-exempt adults in(a)West Sussex and (b)Adur, Arun and Worthing Primary Care Trust. [156050]

§ Ms Rosie Winterton
Information on which dental surgeries are taking adults who pay patient charges can be found on the NHS.UK website at www.nhs.uk. The information on the website is provided by primary care trusts (PCTs), and covers all national health service dental providers, not just principals and assistants in the general dental service.
The information on the site as at 2 March 2004 shows a total of 53 dental practices in Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT area, one of which is registering charge paying adults for treatment (four are registering charge exempt adults). For the Western Sussex PCT, 48 dental practices are listed, two of which are registering charge paying adults. The information does change regularly often daily, and both the website and NHS Direct (which also uses the information) advise members of the public to telephone the dental practice to double check that the information is still accurate.