Dental Charges (Hansard, 12 April 1988)

§ Ms. Harman
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the receipts from patient charges for treatment in the general dental service, in England, in each of the years 1979–87; what are the estimated receipts for 1987–88; and what is his estimate of receipts in 1988–89 and 1989–90, taking account of the changes in dental charges proposed in the White Paper on primary health care and of the likely movement in dentists' fees in those years.

§ Mr. Newton
Receipts from patient charges in the general dental service in England in the years 1979–80 to 1987–88 have been :104W

General dental service: England receipts from patient charges

£ million

1979–80 70

1980–81 92

1981–82 115

1982–83 141

1983–84 155

1984–85 171

1985–86 196

1986–87 221

¹1987–88 240

¹Estimated.

The Government's current expenditure plans for England which reflect the changes proposed in the White Paper on primary health care, show estimated receipts from dental charges of £285 million in 1988–89, which includes estimated income from the proposed introduction of dental examination charges together with an increased income of £15 million (out of £17 million for Great Britain as a whole) from dental treatment charges compared with what was assumed for that year in the previous public expenditure White Paper. For 1989–90 the expenditure plans for England show estimated receipts of £334 million.

§ Ms. Harman
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his estimate of receipts from patient charges in England in 1988–89 and 1989–90, based on the system of charges introduced in April 1985, with a ceiling charge of £115 maintained, and taking account of the likely movement in dentists' fees in those years;
(2) what percentage charge rate, applied to all currently charged treatment and maintaining all current exemptions, would raise the receipts expected in 1988–89 and 1989–90 under the April 1985 charge system; and what would be the effect on that percentage charge rate of (a) raising the ceiling charge to £150, (b) maintaining the ceiling charge at £115 and extending charges to dental examinations and (c) raising the ceiling charge to £150 and introducing an examination charge.

§ Mr. Newton
Had no changes of any kind been made, for example to take account of inflation, to maintain receipts as a proportion of the gross costs of the general dental service, to move to proportionate charging for treatment currently charged at 100 per cent. or for items whose cost is currently fixed, or to introduce charges for dental examinations, receipts from patient charges would probably have been about £250 million in 1988–89 and about £260 million in 1989–90. To raise this amount, the following are estimates of the percentage charge rate which would be required, on the assumption that the charges illustrated and had been brought into effect from 1 April 1988:

1988–89 1989–90

(a) with present maximum of £115 68 65

(b) with maximum of £150 66 62

(c) with present maximum of £115 and with a charge for dental examination 61 56

(d) with maximum of £150 and a charge for dental examination 60 53

General dental service: England receipts from patient charges
	£ million
1979–80	70
1980–81	92
1981–82	115
1982–83	141
1983–84	155
1984–85	171
1985–86	196
1986–87	221
¹1987–88	240
¹Estimated.

	1988–89	1989–90
(a) with present maximum of £115	68	65
(b) with maximum of £150	66	62
(c) with present maximum of £115 and with a charge for dental examination	61	56
(d) with maximum of £150 and a charge for dental examination	60	53