Dentistry (Hansard, 14 July 1992)

§ 17. Mr. Simon Coombs
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she next proposes to meet the British Dental Association to discuss dentists' contracts.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
My Department is in frequent contact with the British Dental Association on a range of issues. The principles of the dental contract are firmly in place, but we have always been prepared to make changes where necessary.

§ 20. Mr. Bradley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the current situation regarding dentists' fees and remuneration.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
The Government remain firmly committed to dentistry within the national health service and we shall take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that the NHS dental services remain available. For the future, we are looking to the fundamental review to produce a system which will more fairly and more effectively remunerate all NHS dentists for the important work they do.

§ 21. Mr. Hutton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will pay an official visit to south Cumbria to discuss provision of dental treatment within the national health service.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
We are keeping in touch with all parts of the country about the provision of dental treatment within the national health service.

§ Mr. Robin Cook
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the consequence for children's dental health of(a) the reduction in orthodontic multiband fees and (b) the lowering of the limit on prior approval.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
We do not believe there will be any consequence for children's dental health. The range of treatments available to children under the national health service remains the same, and the changes to the prior approval requirement will not significantly increase total treatment time.

§ Mr. Robin Cook
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many additional staff will be employed at the Scottish and English dental practice boards to process prior approval estimates following the introduction of the £200 limit;
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(2) how many days, on average, it will take to process prior approval requests for dental treatment.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 13 July. Information relating to Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

§ Mr. Robin Cook
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of orthodontic courses of treatment, excluding examination, diagnosis and retention will be subject to the new prior approval restriction.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
The Dental Practice Board has estimated that some 30 per cent. will require prior approval.