§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to improve National Health Service facilities for dental treatment in Cheshire and particularly in the area covered by the Macclesfield District Health Area; and whether it is his intention 482W to open a National Health Service dental clinic in order to increase facilities for dental treatment.
§ Mr. MoyleAlthough no compulsion can be exercised there has been a fairly steady increase in recent years in the number of dentists providing general dental services both in Cheshire and in the Macclesfield health district.
In the community dental services, new purpose-built premises have recently been opened at Chester and Helsby and new premises are being built at Halton; additional surgeries have been provided at Widnes and Warrington, and in Macclesfield increased use has been made of a mobile clinic. There has been considerable re-equipment of surgeries throughout the area. Staffing in the service has been improved and is now better than in 1974.
It is the intention of the area health authority to undertake further development of clinics at Warrington, Widnes and Macclesfield.