§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they anticipate any reduction in the mortality and morbidity rates associated with dental treatment under general anaesthesia as a result of the General Dental Council's new restrictions. [HL3894]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hayman)We welcome any steps proposed by the dental profession to improve the safety of dental treatment under general anaesthesia.
§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the average length of waiting lists and the average time from referral to treatment for patients waiting for dental treatment under general anaesthesia in the Hospital Dental Service in each District General Hospital; and what will be the effect of the new regulations on waiting times. [HL3893]
§ Baroness HaymanInformation of this detail is not available centrally, but waiting times for oral surgery for each hospital trust are included in the publication"Waiting times for first outpatient appointments; detailed statistics, quarter ended 30 June 1999" a copy of which is available in the Library.
§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they will take to compensate dental practitioners for the cost of anaesthetic monitoring and safety equipment now rendered surplus to requirement by the General Dental Council's restrictions on the provision of general anaesthesia in dental surgeries issued on 10 November; and [HL3891]
220WAWhat assessment the Department of Health has made of the increased case load and cost which the General Dental Council's restrictions on general anaesthesia in dental surgeries will impose on the Hospital Dental Services. [HL3892]
§ Baroness HaymanThe General Dental Council's amendment to its ethical guidance on general anaesthesia, sedation and resuscitation has not precluded the provision of general anaesthesia with dental treatment in primary care.
§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the cost of implementing the recommendations of the Poswillo report on General Anaesthesia and Sedation in Dentistry:
- (a) to the public purse; and
- (b) to the dental profession. [HL3890]
§ Baroness HaymanThe allocation to regional health authorities from 1992 to 1995 from the Department of Health was £20.4 million. Since then any further costs have been part of baseline allocations. Costs to the dental profession would be part of the normal business of running a dental practice and therefore not directly identified by government.
§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many deaths and cases of severe morbidity have been associated with general anaesthesia for dental treatment in each year 1988 to 1998; and what was the location of each incident and the status of the administrator of the anaesthetic. [HL3889]
§ Baroness HaymanThe available information on deaths is given in the table. Statistics for severe morbidity are not held centrally.
Deaths associated with general anaesthesia and dental treatment, England and Wales Year Total Place of operation: dental practice Place of operation: hospital Status of administrator and other comments 1998 1 0 1 Not available centrally 1989 3 1 2 Not available centrally 1990 2 0 2 Not available centrally 1991 0 0 0 1992 6 3 2 GMP—3 cases GDP—1 case 1993 1 0 1 Anaesthetic registrar 1994 0 0 0 1995 0 0 0 1996 2 2 0 Consultant anaesthetist—2 cases 1997 1 1 0 Consultant anaesthetist 1998 3 3 0 GDP—1 case Anaesthetist—2 cases (one case in Scotland) GMP—General Medical Practitioner.
GDP—General Dental Practitioner.