§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received over(a) decreasing real incomes to national health service dentists and (b) the number of dentists leaving the national health service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellThe Department has received a number of representations, including letters and telephone calls, about these issues. In addition, officials have attended meetings with the General Dental Services Committee of the British Dental Association, and several family health services authorities and local dental committees.
Between 1978–79 and 1988–89, dentists' income increased by about 40 per cent. in real terms. In 1991–92 the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body recommended a higher increase (11 per cent.) for dentists than for most other groups.
Between 1 October 1990 and 30 April 1991 there was a net decrease of 123 (about 0.7 per cent.) in the number of entries of family health services authority dental lists. It is not known how much national health service work the dentists who have left had done previously.