§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of dentists deregistering their patients on the level of dental health in(a) London and (b) England.
§ Dr. MawhinneyDental treatment under the national health service is available throughout England. Over the period July 1992 to December 1993 there was a net increase in the number of patients registered with dentists and in the number of dentists in contract with family health services authorities, in both London and England.
§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been deregistered by their dentists in each of the London health authority areas during each of the last five years; and how many dentists in each of the London health authority areas have been involved in the deregistration.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe available information is shown in the table. In the London area 338 dentists deregistered 39,127 adult patients and 15 dentists deregistered 85 child patients between July 1992 and February 1994. Some dentists will appear in both counts. Over the period July 1992 to December 1993, in the London area there was a net increase of 168,000 registrations and a net increase of 21 dentists contracted to family health services authorities.
§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when she will publish her Department's response to the oral health strategy; and if she will make a statement;
(2) if she will publish the Government's response to the Bloomfield report on dental services; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Wardell) on 18 February at column1042.
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