NHS Dentistry (Stoke-on-Trent) (Hansard, 2 December 1999)

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health which dental practices in Stoke-on-Trent, North are currently accepting new NHS patients. [100182]

§ Mr. Hutton
We understand that two dental practices in Stoke-on-Trent, North are currently accepting new National Health Service patients and another practice in the area will also be accepting new NHS patients from January following the appointment of a vocational trainee.
In addition, a practice in Stoke-on-Trent, North has had Investing In Dentistry moneys approved and it is anticipated that an additional surgery and the acceptance of new NHS patients will commence in the near future.

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the waiting time between registration of new NHS patients and earliest appointment in Stoke-on-Trent, North; and if he will make a statement. [100183]

§ Mr. Denham
Specific data on waiting times between registration with a National Health Service dentist and earliest appointment in Stoke-on-Trent, North are not collected centrally. However, North Staffordshire Health Authority report that in Stoke-on-Trent, North new patients registering with an NHS dentist requiring urgent treatment will be seen within a week, while new dental patients requiring an extensive examination will be required to wait for a period of four to six weeks on average.

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to ensure emergency NHS dental services are available in Stoke-on-Trent, North. [100184]

§ Mr. Hutton
Emergency National Health Service dental services are provided as part of the General Dental Service contract to all patients registered with a NHS dental practitioner. North Staffordshire dentists operate an out-of-hours emergency rota which provides advice and care as appropriate to registered and unregistered individuals.
There is a salaried dental service located at Basford House, Stoke-on-Trent which provides access to dental care Monday to Friday for those unable to access general dental services. In addition, an emergency dental clinic also operates at Basford House every Saturday and Sunday, including Bank Holidays.