§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she intends to take to improve the control of cross-infection in dental practice; what measures are intended to improve both the opportunity for and take-up of postgraduate education in the clinical management of cross-infection by dentists and their teams; and how she will monitor the control of cross-infection in dental surgery and practice.
§ Mr. MaloneThe maintenance of clinical standards is primarily a matter for the dental profession. The 387W Department, however, issues guidance which covers the control of cross-infection in dental practice. The latest advice from the Department is contained in a letter from the Chief Dental Officer in July 1993, copies of which are available in the Library.
Central funds are provided to postgraduate deans to provide those postgraduate and continuing education courses that are necessary. That includes the control of cross-infection.
Dentists have a responsibility in their terms of service to observe appropriate cross-infection control procedures. Inspection of practices is undertaken by family health services authorities.
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she intends to take to review dental manpower in England and Wales; and what forward planning her Department currently undertakes to plan for future dental manpower needs over the next five-year period.
§ Mr. MaloneThe Department, together with the British Dental Association, regularly conducts reviews of the need for dental manpower.
The current review, which began in 1992, has been deferred so that future developments can take account of Government proposals for the future of national health service dentistry
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide figures on the morbidity and mortality rates associated with the administration of general anaesthetics and sedatives for the purpose of dental surgery in England and Wales for each year since 1985.
§ Mr. MaloneThe available information is shown in the table.
Deaths associated with the administration of general anaesthetics for dental treatment England and Wales Year Number of deaths 1985 4 1986 3 1987 5 1988 1 1989 3 1990 3 1991 0 1992 4 1993 1
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she plans to provide national standards or guidelines for the administration of general anaesthesia and sedation for children undergoing dental surgery.
§ Mr. MaloneIn October 1992, the United Kingdom health Minister gave the clinical standards advisory group the remit
to advise on standards of clinical care for, and access to and availability of services to National Health Service patients referred to out-patient and community health services for dental treatment that may require the administration of a general anaesthetic".The group is currently preparing its report.