§ Mr. EtheringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the ratio of(a) general dental practitioners and (b) community dental practitioners to children aged (i) under four years, (ii) four to 10 years and (iii) 11 to 19 years in the Sunderland health authority area. [4419]
§ Mr. MaloneThe information is contained in the table:
General dental service and community dental service: number of children in the population per general dental practitioner1 2 3 and community dental4 practitioners in Sunderland health authority Age group Number of children per general dental practitioners1 2 3 at 30 June 1996 Number of children per community dental practitioners4 (whole time equivalents) at 30 September 1995 Under 4 172 2,564 Age 4-10 327 4,883 Age 11-19 392 5,853 1The number of dentists (principals) on the health authority list and their assistants and vocational trainees. Sunderland health authority does not employ any salaried dentists. 2Some dentists have a contract with more than one health authority. All dentists practising in Sunderland are included. 3Excludes hospital dentists. 4Figures for community dentists are whole time equivalents and represents the number of staff allocated by: Sunderland Health Commission, Priority Healthcare Wearside NHS trust and City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust. The population figures are at 30 June 1995. Patients are not restricted to receiving dental treatment in the health authority in which they live.