§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what measures she is taking to provide national health service dental treatment for those patients of dentists who have stopped providing national health service treatment;
(2) if she will hold talks with the British Dental Association about the number of dentists who have stopped providing or intend to stop providing national health service treatment for their patients.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Department is in frequent contact with the British Dental Association on a range of issues. There is no evidence of a widespread problem of dentists ceasing to provide NHS treatment. We recognise, however, that there are areas where some problems do exist. Family health services authorities are taking action to improve provision of dental care in their localities, and can make use of initiatives such as the location incentives scheme and employment of salaried dentists where a need exists. We are already discussing several possibilities with regional health authorities, family health services authorities and representatives of the profession on how to make further improvements.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the recommended maximum number of national health service dental patients registered with a dentist;
96W(2) what was the average number of national health service patients registered with each dentist contracted with family health services authorities and their predecessors in 1990–91.
§ Dr. MawhinneyBefore the introduction of the new dental contract in October 1990, patients did not register with dentists. At 31 December 1990 the average number of patients registered with general dental practitioners in England was 334. At 31 December 1991 the average number of patients registered was 1,605. We understand that the number of patients registering is still increasing. There is no recommended maximum number of registrations.
§ Mr. Terry DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used by the Dental Practice Board when considering the removal of a dentist's name from the family health services authority list.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Dental Practice Board plays no part in the procedure for determining the removal of a dentist's name from a family health services authority list.
§ Mr. Terry DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have recorded no contact by way of estimate form in the last six-monthly period.
§ Dr. MawhinneyIn the six months period ending 30 April 1992, a total of 650 general dental practitioners contracted to family health services authorities in England —from a total of 14,978—had not submitted any dental payment claim to the Dental Practice Board.
§ Mr. Terry DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists' names have been removed from the family health services authority list in each month in the last convenient six-monthly period.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe information requested is not collected centrally. Between 30 September 1990 and 30 September 1991 there was a net decrease of 29 dentists practising in the general dental services in England.
§ Mr. Terry DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have no registration for continuing care and capitation payments at the most recent date for which figures are available.
§ Dr. MawhinneyAt 30 March 1992 a total of 482 dentists in England and Wales had no registrations for continuing care or capitation payments.
§ Ms. LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what impact she expects her Department's proposals on the future level of dentists' fees will have on the number of NHS dentists.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe level of dentists' fees in 1992–93 is a matter for the dental rates study group, which will meet shortly.