§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what initiatives the Government have taken since 1 May 1997 to increase the number of dentists offering NHS treatment, with particular reference to Berkshire. [26158]
§ Mr. MilburnIn September 1997 we launched our Investing in Dentistry initiative, with £9 million of new money. This initiative focuses help on those areas of the country where the problems of access to National Health Service dentistry and oral health inequalities are most acute by providing grants to enable dentists to expand existing practices and set up new ones. On 1 January we announced a further £10 million for 1998–99 to continue the Government's drive to tackle these issues through the initiative.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently approved funding under section 56 of the NHS Act 1977 to help a dentist set up a multi-surgery in Maidenhead.
§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists practise in West Sussex; what is the average number of people registered with each NHS dental practitioner in(a) West Sussex and (b) nationally; and what is the current average waiting time for routine dental treatment with NHS dentists in West Sussex. [27138]
§ Mr. MilburnThere were 300 General Dental Service dentists on West Sussex Health Authority's list on 30 September 1997. At the same date the average number of registered patients per dentist in West Sussex was 1,367 and in England the average was 1,599.
Information is not kept on waiting times for dental treatment either locally or nationally.
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§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of NHS dental services in West Sussex. [27137]
§ Mr. MilburnThere were 300 General Dental Service dentists on West Sussex Health Authority's list on 30 September 1997. The health authority can refer patients to a dentist willing to register them for National Health Service treatment.