§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take immediate action to prohibit the practice of dentists re-using needles for injecting local anaesthetics.
§ Mrs. CurrieDentists in the community and hospital dental services are provided with a fresh needle for each patient. In the general dental service general dental practitioners' terms and conditions of service already require the use of suitable instruments. Recent guidance issued on control of cross-infection in dentistry has stressed that it is essential to use a fresh disposable needle for each patient. I would expect any complaint that a dentist has failed to observe that guidance would be subject to an investigation by the service committee of the relevant family practitioner committee.