§ Mr. Sean HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has received the report of Professor Dawid's study on measurement of the work load of dentists; if he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanThe report, "Measurement of Dentists' Workload" by Professor A. P. Dawid, of the department of statistical science, University College, London, was commissioned jointly by the Department and the British Dental Association to advise on the principles on which the measurement of work load in the general dental services should be based. Officials from the Department and the association have studied the report and agree that it is a useful starting point for a programme of further work designed to achieve an agreed position on work load measurement for the purposes of the dental rates study group and the preparation of evidence for the doctors and dentists review body. Initial discussions on how to take this programme forward are already under way. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. Sean HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional costs have been incurred in the change in organisation from the Dental Estimates Board to the Dental Practice Board; and whether he will itemise the main headings of expenditure.
§ Mr. FreemanThere have been no costs associated with the change of name from the Dental Estimates Board to the Dental Practice Board.
§ Mr. Sean HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions are currently being 95W undertaken with the object of improving emergency dental services; and when he anticipates being able to report progress;
(2) what provision he intends to make to enable patients in the community dental service to have access to emergency dental services.
§ Mr. FreemanArrangements for the provision of local emergency dental services are a matter for the relevant family practitioner committee and any such services are also available to persons who have been treated by the community dental service. Discussions, with representatives of the dental profession, on the terms of a new contract for general dental practitioners will cover emergency treatment provision but we cannot say when we shall be able to report on the discussions.
§ Mr. Sean HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in computerising the remuneration of general dental practitioners in England and Wales; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanThe translation of returns from dentists to the Dental Practice Board into schedules of payments for family practitioner committees to make to them is already fully computerised. A pilot trial to test the feasibility and value of electronic data transmission between dentists and the Dental Practice Board is currently in progress, involving 60 dentists in 26 practices in England and Wales. A full report on the trial is expected in July.
§ Mr. Sean HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has held an internal inquiry into the late arrival of form FPN 472 relating to dental charges; and what redress is available through departmental machinery for the general dental practitioners in the event of subsequent under-remuneration.
§ Mr. FreemanFamily practitioner notice 472 advised dentists of changes in dental charges as from 1 April 1989. The department distributed the notice to family practitioner committees (FPCs) in time for them to deliver to dentists before the changes came into effect. In a very small number of cases there was a delay of a few days in the transmission of the notice from FPCs to dentists. There is no reason why this should lead to any under-remuneration.