HL Deb 14 July 1988 vol 499 cc1012-3WA
Lord Wise

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the relationship between the number of courses of dental treatment carried out in England and the increase in the average charge paid by paying patients in each year since 1976.

Lord Skelmersdale

The table shows that the number of courses of treatment in England has increased consistently each year since 1976 in spite of increases in the average charge paid by paying patients ranging from 5.3 per cent. to 35.3 per cent.

Courses of treatment average patient charge
Number (000's) percentage increase amount £ percentage increase
1975 25,904 5.1 2.78
1976 26,277 1.4 3.76 35.3
1977 26,972 2.6 4.79 27.4
1978 27,105 0.5 5.64 17.7
1979 27,165 0.2 6.37 12.9
1980 28,614 5.3 8.43 32.3
1981 29,036 1.5 10.07 19.5
1982 29,926 3.1 11.89 18.1
1983 30,506 1.9 13.45 13.1
1984 30,971 1.5 14.42 7.2
1985 31,385 1.3 16.14 11.9
1985/86 31,508 16.67
1986/87* 32,103 1.9 17.56 5.3
*data for numbers of courses of treatment was switched from calendar to financial year from 1986–87; 1985–86 is included to enable percentage increase to he shown.