Dentistry, Durham (Hansard, 16 June 1993)

§ Mr. Steinberg
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many courses of dental treatment were carried out in the Durham area under the NHS in 1979; and what were the equivalent figures for the last 12-month period for which figures are available.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
The information is shown in the table.

Courses of treatment carried out in the Durham Family Health Services Authority area under the General Dental Service during 1979 and 1992–93

Year Under 18¹ 18 and over Total¹

1979 103,630 153,160 256,790

1992–93 42,476 269,315 311,791

¹ Under the new dental contract introduced on 1 October 1990, most child treatment is undertaken under capitation where no separate course of treatment is identified. These figures are therefore not comparable.

§ Mr. Steinberg
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement about the availability of NHS dental treatment in the Durham area.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
We are advised that patients in the Durham area have had no difficulty in registering with a national health service dentist.

Courses of treatment carried out in the Durham Family Health Services Authority area under the General Dental Service during 1979 and 1992–93
Year	Under 18¹	18 and over	Total¹
1979	103,630	153,160	256,790
1992–93	42,476	269,315	311,791
¹ Under the new dental contract introduced on 1 October 1990, most child treatment is undertaken under capitation where no separate course of treatment is identified. These figures are therefore not comparable.