§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he had made of the numbers of dental patients who have not used their dentist for two years or more and have subsequently(a) been deregistered by their local dental board and (b) been charged a £30 emergency fee before any new treatment and reregistration; and by what method patients are informed of the imposition of that charge. [2307]
§ Mr. MilburnIn 1996–97 4.1 million adult registrations lapsed automatically after a period of two years during which the patient had not attended a dentist. There is no National Health Service charge for registering or re-registering with a dentist.