§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many patients had their dental charges paid by his Department in England and Wales, respectively, at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement on the operation of this system;
(2) how many dentists have failed to receive payment from his Department for patients treated who claim the cost from his Department in England and Wales, respectively; and what is the average waiting time for dentists to receive payment from his Department.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkePeople who have a low income, but who are not automatically exempt from dental charges, receive help with paying charges, subject to an assessment by our Department of their ability to pay. Under this system, the dentist is notified how much, if anything, the patient has been assessed as being able to pay and collects any sum due from the patient. He attaches the notification to the estimate from when he sends it to the Dental Estimates Board, which then authorises the family practitioner committee to pay the dentist the fees due, less the patient's contribution, if any. I do not know of any dentist failing to receive payment under this system, but if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind I would be happy to look into it.
In the year ending March 1984 there were 186,000 successful claims for help with dental charges in England and 18,200 in Wales. In addition, in the year ending December 1983 there were 60,000 refunds to patients of charges they had already paid to dentists in England and 3,000 in Wales. Our Department normally takes about three weeks to process claims for help with dental charges.