§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many national health service dentists routinely use amalgam in fillings; and how many use materials developed since the introduction of amalgam. [5572]
§ Mr. MaloneThe information requested is contained in the table.
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General dental service: estimated number of dentists1 receiving payment for at least one amalgam and non-amalgam filling in a quarter2 England Number of dentists3 At least one amalgam 413,675 At least one filling in a material other than amalgam 413,016 1 Figures include dentists who claimed in respect of adult and child treatments. However, the majority of child treatments are currently carried out under capitation arrangements. Fillings paid for under capitation arrangements are not reported and are not included in the analysis. 2 This information is taken from the payment schedule data of one quarter (September-November 1996). 3 The information presented relates to the number of dentists who made claims for fillings. Dentists claim payment at the end of a course of treatment. These figures thus show the number of dentists who finished courses of treatment in which they performed fillings. 4 These figures rely on data from a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore estimates. A total of 15,249 dentists received a schedule of payment in the period September to November 1996.
§ Mr. PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 6 December,Official Report, columns 820–21, on the largest annual NHS payments to dentists, for how many hours work on NHS patients the dentist was paid in each of the years given. [9076]
§ Mr. MaloneDentists are paid item of service fees and a fee for each patient registered with them. They are not paid by the hour.
§ Mr. PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 6 December,Official Report, columns 820–21, on the largest annual NHS payments to dentists, how many patients were treated by the dentist in each of the years given. [9074]
§ Mr. MaloneThe information requested is not held centrally.
Year Gross fee earnings1 Capitation per cent. Continuing care per cent. Weighted entry per cent. Adult item of service per cent. Child item of service per cent. 1995–96 604,000 8.4 6.0 0.9 79.2 5.5 1994–95 617,000 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.9 97.1 1993–94 661,000 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.5 96.5 1992–93 486,000 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.0 96.0 1991–92 395,000 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.3 96.7 1 These have been rounded to the nearest £1,000. Gross fee payments do not account for all NHS earnings. Other payments such as maternity, seniority and long-term sickness payments are payable in addition to gross fees.
§ Mr. PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 6 December,Official Report, columns 820–21, on the largest annual NHS payments to dentists, if he will list each category of payment which can contribute to NHS earnings. [9077]
§ Mr. MaloneThe categories of payment are: item of service fees; continuing care and capitation payments; seniority payments; vocational training allowances; maternity payments; long-term sickness payments; postgraduate education allowances; and partial reimbursement of non-domestic rates. These are contained in the statement of dental remuneration. Copies of the latest statement of dental remuneration have been placed in the Library.