§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the fact that Circular ECN844, paragraph 9, instructs dentists to inform dental departments of hospitals of charges paid by patients for their treatment, if patients receiving dental treatment, excluding appliances, at hospitals will have to pay; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonNo. Charges under the hospital dental service continue to apply only to the supply of dentures for outpatients.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average cost, exclusive of patient 51W charges, of the dental treatment provided under the general dental service in England and Wales in 1969 and 1970; what were the figures for each individual Executive Council and the regional average; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonThe average cost exclusive of patient charges of courses of treatment and cases of emergency treatment provided under the general dental services in England and Wales in 1969 and 1970 was about £2.98 and £3.43, respectively. Corresponding figures for individual Executive Councils and regional averages are not available but the estimated average cost, inclusive of patient charges, for each economic planning region is as follows:
AVERAGE COST (INCLUSIVE OF PATIENTS' CHARGES) OF COURSES OF TREATMENT AND CASES OF EMERGENCY TREATMENT BY ECONOMIC PLANNING REGION IN ENGLAND AND WALES Region 1969 1970 £ £ England: North 3.71 4.20 Yorkshire and Humberside 3.67 4.09 East Midlands 3.43 3.85 East Anglia 3.24 3.72 South East (GLC Area)* 4.35 4.95 South East (Non-GLC Area) 3.38 3.85 South West 3.29 3.83 West Midlands 3.63 4.14 North West 3.76 4.28 Wales 4.21 4.78 Note: The figures are derived from a 2 percent. sample. * Includes Inner London; North East London; South West London and Surrey; Middlesex Executive Council areas only.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements he is making for extra dental staff to be recruited to meet the expected increase in demand for free dental treatment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephIt is too early yet to assess the overall effect on manpower requirements of the revised system of patients charges but the total number of registered dentists and the numbers employed in the hospital, local health and education authority and general dental services are all increasing. The number of dental students admitted to the first professional year has already risen from 590 in 1962 to 791 in 1970 and the programme of expansion of dental schools is continuing.