NHS Dental Checks

HC Deb 17 October 1991 vol 196 cc215-6W

Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the charge for a NHS dental examination; and what was the charge in 1979.

Mr. Dorrell

The patient charges for NHS dental examinations are £3.75, £5.25 and £12.00, depending on the complexity of the examination. There was no charge for any dental examination in 1979. In 1979–80, 18,185,000 courses of dental treatment were provided for adults in England and Wales. The equivalent figure for 1990–91 is 23,738,000, and an increase of over 30 per cent.