HC Deb 09 December 1948 vol 459 cc70-1W
27. Sir T. Moore

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the large sums which are being expended on free dentures, he will revise the scale of fees paid to dentists so as to weigh the balance more in favour of conservative dentistry.

Mr. Bevan

While the present scale of fees must be reviewed with the dentists, in other respects it is already certainly heavily weighted in favour of conservative work.

85. Mr. McGhee

asked the Minister of Health what alterations he proposes to make in the remuneration of dentists under the National Health Service.

Mr. Bevan

With the dental Associations I am undertaking a full review of our present translation of the Spens Committee into fees for services. Meanwhile, as it is obvious that some dentists are earning far more than that Committee ever contemplated, I am adopting a temporary arrangement whereby fees are reduced by half after a dentist reaches an income of £4,800 gross—or £1,000 in excess of the point at which the Spens Committee said the risk of bad dentistry began. Doctors already have a limit, in the number of patients allowed on their lists.

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