HC Deb 18 May 2004 vol 421 cc952-3W
Mr. Hepburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent per capita on NHS dentistry in(a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England in each year since 1997; and what spending is projected for 2004. [162837]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Gross fees paid to dentists per capita on general dental service (GDS) dentistry in South Tyneside Primary Care Trust (PCT), the North-East and for England in each year since 1997 is shown in the table. Jarrow constituency is covered by South Tyneside PCT. Figures for 2002–03 are split between the previous health authorities for the first six months and the new PCT (for South Tyneside) and strategic health authorities (for the North-East) for the later six months. To ensure comparability, these are expressed as an annual rate

Expenditure figures for 2003–04 are not yet available. Under current arrangements, local budgets are not required, or calculated, for 2004. The GDS budget for 2004–05 is a non-discretionary budget, which is held centrally, and expenditure is determined by dental activity.

Gross fees cover payments for patient registrations and treatments and exclude additional payments such as superannuation contributions. Gross fees include patient charges.

These expenditure figures do not cover expenditure in other national health service dental services; the personal dental service, community dental service and hospital dental service.

Gross fees per capita on GDS dentistry for each, financial year from 1997–98
Financial year South Tyneside1 North East England
1997–98 27.64 27.21 26.12
1998–99 29.88 29.36 27.68
1999–2000 30.45 30.28 28.02
2000–01 31.74 30.83 29.07
2001–02 33.20 32.17 30.55
2002–03 (April to September)3 33.12 31.53 30.79
2002–03 (October to March)3 34.84 34.91 31.76

1 For 1997–98 to 2002–03 (Apr to Sept.) figures cover Gateshead and South Tyneside Health Authority (HA) area. From 2002–03 the figures cover South Tyneside PCT.

2 Between 1997–98 and 2002–03 (April to September) the North-East includes the following HAs: County Durham and Darlington, Gateshead and South Tyneside, Newcastle and North Tyneside, Northumberland, Sunderland and Tees. From 2002–03 (October to March), it includes Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authority (SHA) and County Durham and Tees Valley SHA.

3 Figures for 2002–03 are split between the previous HAs for the first six months and the new PCT (for South Tyneside) and SHAs (for the North-East) for the later six months. To ensure comparability, these are expressed as an annual rate. Figures have been expressed at an annual rate by multiplying half-year figures by two.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the number of dentists offering NHS dental treatment in the Vale of York. [173031]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Selby and York Primary Care Trust is working closely with local dentists and the North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Strategic Health Authority to identify opportunities for investment in local dental practices in order to improve access to national health service dentistry.

Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) private dentists and (b) NHS dentists there are in the Easington constituency. [170117]

Miss Melanie Johnson

The Department does not collect information on the number of private dentists, as this is a matter for individual contractors. There were 14 national health service dentists in Easington in December 2003.