§ Mr. Robert Allanasked the Minister of Health how many National Health dentists use intermittent methohexitone in general conservation treatment; what training is available for those dentists wishing to employ this anaesthetic; and whether he is satisfied, in regard to reports of its use in other countries, that this technique is safe for patients when administered by operator-anaesthetists.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI regret that the information requested in the first part of the Question is not available. Postgraduate courses in various methods of anaesthesia are arranged for general dental practitioners by universities and other bodies, but their content is decided by the bodies concerned.
It is primarily for the practitioner to consider whether the clinical needs of his patient justify the use of a particular technique. However, my Standing Medical and Dental Advisory Committees have recently set up a committee to discuss certain aspects of the use of general anaesthetics in dentistry and when their 359W report is available I will consider in consultation with the dental profession whether any information on these matters should be given to practitioners in the general dental services.