HC Deb 30 June 1999 vol 334 cc212-3W
Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of general dental practices are linked electronically to the Dental Practice Board in each health authority area. [89037]

Mr. Jon Owen Jones

The position as of 31 March 1999, as reported by the Dental Practice Board (DPB), is that the percentage of general dental practices that are able to transmit claims (i.e. are linked) electronically to the Dental Practice Board in each health authority area are:

Per cent.
Gwent 49.1
Bro Taf 49.6
Dyfed Powys 44.9
North Wales 49.2
Iechyd Morgannwg 46.9

This represents a figure of 48.1 per cent. for Wales as a whole. May I clarify the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 15 March 1999, Official Report, column 529. The figure of 66 per cent. quoted in my answer, based on data provided by the DPB, referred to general dental practitioners in Wales who utilised information management and technology systems at that time, of which a proportion were linked electronically to the DPB.

Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.

Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if local health groups will be required to make available funding for dental audit on at least the same scale as the funding which is already available. [89038]

Mr. Jon Owen Jones

The new clinical governance agenda gives local health groups an important role to play in encouraging and supporting quality improvement projects. This therefore provides a mechanism for the dental profession to have equal access to funding for dental audit projects. Applications from the primary health care sector, including dentists, will be assessed by the relevant local health group, all of whom have an elected dental member. Funding will be made available on the basis of the merits of the application/business case submitted.

In addition, the Department funds a Dental Adviser post whose primary role is to encourage and support successful applications for funding from the dental profession in Wales.

Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.