Dental Health (Hansard, 21 November 1991)

§ Mr. Gareth Wardell
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has now completed his consideration of implementing a new management information system for the community dental service.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
The development of management information systems for the community dental service is a matter for district health authorities. The Welsh Office has fully funded authorities to purchase equipment for capturing data which will meet the information requirements agreed with chief administrative dental officers and notified to district general managers in February 1991.

§ Mr. Gareth Wardell
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list of those hospitals providing paediatric emergency dental services staffed by the community dental service.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
This information is not held centrally.

§ Mr. Gareth Wardell
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information his Department holds on the relationship between the incidence of dental caries and social deprivation.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
Information about the incidence of dental caries in households of different social class is collected and published decennially by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. The latest published information is from the 1988 adult dental health survey and the 1983 child dental health survey.

§ Mr. Gareth Wardell
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library the reports by district health authorities in Wales of the assessment of local dental health needs in their area.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
I will arrange for copies of the reports of directors of dental public health to be placed in the Library of the House.

§ Mr. Gareth Wardell
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of cross-infection in general dental surgeries.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
The incidence of cross-infection in general dental practice surgeries is determined by the quality of hygienic practices undertaken in those surgeries and is the responsibility of the individual general dental practitioners. Where a family health service authority has reason to believe that appropriate infection control is not practised, it may seek an independent inspection and report from an officer of the dental reference service. Many family health service authorities also operate a voluntary inspection for all new practices.
In 1988, with the aid of family health service authorities and the dental profession in Wales, all practices were surveyed by questionnaire on the quality of their infection control arrangements. Where identified as necessary, counselling of practitioners was given by the profession locally.
To ensure appropriate practitioner training in cross-infection and understanding of practice responsibilities: 279W Guidance has been issued to the profession. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 10 July 1991; Funding was allocated for equipment to facilitate improved undergraduate and postgraduate training (£605,000 in 1988–89–90 and 1990–91 and £900,000 in 1991–92); A video on hygienic practice was issued to all general practitioners in Wales in 1989.
In order to pump-prime appropriate equipment purchases in 1989 by general dental practitioners, the

Percentage of school children¹ inspected by Community dental Service

Clwyd Dyfed Gwent Gwynedd Mid Glamorgan Powys South Glamorgan West Glamorgan

1976 41 49 64 57 41 65 45 33

1977 41 58 62 60 55 77 44 60

1978 43 67 85 44 63 74 42 56

1979 45 62 65 41 61 65 58 57

1980 61 73 77 34 73 77 55 59

1981 78 77 77 24 84 94 59 59

1982 87 72 68 23 78 78 60 61

1983 77 77 n/a 26 73 88 63 60

1984 70 75 78 46 80 88 60 70

1985 67 74 82 50 73 92 62 79

1986–87 67 89 73 45 69 98 59 89

1987–88 73 73 85 37 64 91 63 86

1988–89 50 63 66 40 63 88 65 90

1989–90 47 59 48 50 62 69 69 90

1990–91 50 67 40 64 52 59 54 79

¹ School children aged over 5 in maintained schools.

The following footnote was omitted from the answer I gave on 22 July (Hansard Vol 195. Col 382) to a similar question from the hon. Gentleman: "Percentages for the years 1971 to 1975 include re-inspections"

Percentage of school children¹ inspected by Community dental Service
	Clwyd	Dyfed	Gwent	Gwynedd	Mid Glamorgan	Powys	South Glamorgan	West Glamorgan
1976	41	49	64	57	41	65	45	33
1977	41	58	62	60	55	77	44	60
1978	43	67	85	44	63	74	42	56
1979	45	62	65	41	61	65	58	57
1980	61	73	77	34	73	77	55	59
1981	78	77	77	24	84	94	59	59
1982	87	72	68	23	78	78	60	61
1983	77	77	n/a	26	73	88	63	60
1984	70	75	78	46	80	88	60	70
1985	67	74	82	50	73	92	62	79
1986–87	67	89	73	45	69	98	59	89
1987–88	73	73	85	37	64	91	63	86
1988–89	50	63	66	40	63	88	65	90
1989–90	47	59	48	50	62	69	69	90
1990–91	50	67	40	64	52	59	54	79
¹ School children aged over 5 in maintained schools.