§ 59. Sir J. Mellorasked the Minister of Health why, for dental treatment under the National Health Service, an anaesthetic is administered by a doctor without charge to a patient on his list, whereas for similar treatment by a private dentist, the same doctor charges the same patient a fee for such anaesthetic; and 58W whether provision will be made for the right to receive an anaesthetic under the National Health Service to be the same in the case of treatment by a private dentist as in other cases.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopResponsibility for providing an anaesthetic for dental treatment carried out under the National Health Service rests on the dentist who receives payment for the administration of the anaesthetic and makes his own arrangements with the anaesthetist. The treatment which a doctor is required to give a patient on his list does not include the administration of an anaesthetic at a dental operation and there is nothing to prevent the charging of a fee for this service where the dental treatment is given under a private arrangement.