§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the present arrangements for preventing and detecting unnecessary dental treatment in the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI am becoming increasingly concerned that a small minority of dentists might be abusing the present system of payments to dentists under the NHS and that the present legal provisions and methods of detection might be inadequate to prevent this and act as a proper deterrent. I have asked a small but distinguished committee to investigate the matter and give me advice as quickly as possible.
The committee will be chaired by Mr. S. G. Schanschieff, Chairman of Northampton health authority. The other members will be Professor D. F. Shovelton, professor of restorative dentistry, Birmingham university and Mr. J. Toulmin QC. The committee's terms of reference will be:
To enquire into the extent of unnecessary dental treatment in the general dental service; to consider methods of preventing and detecting such treatment; to consider any amendments which may be necessary to the relevant legal provisions; and to make recommendations together with the estimated costs of those recommendations.The committee is expected to report by the middle of 1985.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provisions will be made to ensure the maintenance of school dental inspections and treatment for children and services for special schools and homes in 218W areas covered by the Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton district health authorities arising from their recent decision to close four of their community dental service clinics.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton health authority has put forward a proposal to close four commmunity dental service clinics. This has been the subject of formal consultation locally and the health authority will need to consider the outcome of that consultation before a final decision is taken. If the health authority's proposal is implemented however I understand that the remaining dental staff would be deployed so as to provide the necessary dental inspection and treatment of pupils at maintained schools.