§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 23 March,Official Report, column 343, concerning dentists in Gwynedd, how many of the general dental practitioners in Gwynedd on 31 December 1994 were (a) taking on new NHS patients and (b) treating adults on the NHS; and what was the corresponding number of dentists in Gwynedd on 31 December in each of the preceding five years. [17343]
§ Mr. RichardsInformation is not held centrally on the number of dental practitioners taking on new NHS patients or specifically treating adults on the NHS at any given time. The number of practitioners in Gwynedd treating NHS patients, of any age, in each year from 1989 to 1993 was as follows:
1Number of practitioners 30 September 1989 66 30 September 1990 69 31 December 1991 63 31 December 1992 63 31 December 1993 67 1 Principals, assistants and voacational trainees.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many family health services authorities have been unable to provide emergency dental services in each month since April 1991. [17393]
§ Mr. RichardsFrom information supplied by family health services authorities since August 1992, emergency dental services have operated in all Welsh authority areas except Dyfed. There was a period up to May 1993 when Gwynedd family health services authority was also unable to arrange such a clinic.
General dental practitioners provide emergency cover for their registered patients under their terms of service.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the increase or decrease in the number of dentists in each of the family health services authority areas in Wales between 1985 and 1995. [18270]
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§ Mr. RichardsThe information is given in the table:
1Number of general dental practitioners FHSA area 30 September 1985 31 December 1994 Change Clwyd 87 119 +32 Dyfed 80 104 +24 Gwent 109 140 +31 Gwynedd 65 66 +1 Mid Glamorgan 119 123 +4 Powys 30 34 +4 South Glamorgan 129 134 +5 West Glamorgan 123 130 +7 1 Principals, assistants and vocational trainees. Dentists working in more than 1 FHSA are counted in the FHSA where the majority of their work is performed.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received during the past 12 months concerning NHS dental services in Gwynedd; what steps he has taken over that period to overcome the problem; and what has been the effect of these steps. [18301]
§ Mr. RichardsIn the past 12 months 93 representations have been received about dental services in Gwynedd, including 57 from Members of Parliament. During the same period the Gwynedd family health services authority has received nearly £7,000 to cover the cost of local initiatives aimed at increasing NHS dental provision. A location incentive grant has also been agreed by the Welsh Office to assist a dentist to open a new practice in Dolgellau.
The Welsh Office has also provided a grant of £50,000 to the health authority to enable it to purchase extra community dental sessions and continues to support the Gwynedd family health services authority salaried dental service. On 30 January, my right hon. Friend announced that he is making a further £2.5 million available to improve dental services in the community.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what was(a) the highest and (b) the lowest level of remuneration paid by his Department to full-time general dental practitioners in Wales during the most recent year for which figures are available. [18272]
§ Mr. RichardsGeneral dental practitioners are independent contractors paid, in the main, on an item-of-service basis. The concept of "full time" does not therefore apply and information is not available in the form requested.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dentists there are currently being trained in the University of Wales; and what assessment he made of whether this number is adequate to meet demand. [18303]
§ Mr. RichardsThere are 117 dental students in Wales. Following the last review of medical and dental manpower there was an expansion of 20 per cent. at the Welsh dental school compared with a reduction of 10 per cent. elsewhere. The Welsh dental school is now at full capacity. Dental manpower is assessed on a UK basis and the present manpower strategy is based upon the recommendations of the dental strategy review group which reported in 1982. The situation is being kept under review.
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§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many salaried dentists there were employed in each of the family health services authority areas in Wales on 31 March; and if he will make a statement. [18271]
§ Mr. RichardsThree salaried general dental practitioners were employed on 31 March 1995, one each by Gwynedd, Dyfed and Powys family health services authorities.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales when did he last met representatives of the British Dental Association to discuss problems relating to NHS dentistry in Wales; and what was the outcome of such discussions. [18302]
§ Mr. RichardsMy right hon. Friend has not previously met representatives of the British Dental Association but has indicated his willingness to meet representatives of the profession in Wales at an appropriate time, if requested. Welsh Office officials maintain regular contact with those representatives.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the expenditure by his Department on NHS dentistry services in the county of Gwynedd in each of the past five years. [18304]
Number of new registrations Health authority area of residence 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 Clwyd 11 11 11 7 9 11 9 7 8 13 13 East Dyfed 3 1 5 3 6 2 7 4 5 5 7 Gwent 6 10 12 5 14 8 12 6 10 9 12 Gwynedd 3 4 1 2 4 6 6 5 2 2 7 Mid Glamorgan 11 9 5 5 6 7 9 9 8 11 11 Pembrokeshire 2 2 — 1 3 — 6 5 6 4 2 Powys 3 2 1 1 — — 3 1 7 2 — South Glamorgan 10 6 6 10 9 8 11 5 6 9 7 West Glamorgan 4 4 5 7 6 7 3 9 11 10 6 Wales 53 49 46 41 57 49 66 51 63 65 65