§ Mr. Simon ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the extent to which the composition of the General Dental Council reflects the interests of patients.[157448]
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§ Mr. HuttonWe have welcomed proposals from the General Dental Council for increasing its lay membership. Amendments to the Dentists Act 1984 would be required which we plan shortly to submit for scrutiny and debate by Parliament under section 60 of the Health Act 1999.
§ Mr. Simon ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the General Dental Council's decision not to allow dental patients access to professionals complementary to dentistry, with particular reference to clinical dental technicians. [157447]
§ Mr. HuttonCurrently only two groups of professionals complementary to dentistry are registered by the General Dental Council (GDC): Dental therapists and dental hygienists. The GDC has agreed that additional groups should be registered including clinic dental technicians whom the GDC proposes should be allowed to work remote from the dental practice, but to the prescription of a dentist. Amendments to the Dentists Act 1984 would be required which we plan, in due course, to submit for scrutiny and debate by Parliament under section 60 of the Health Act 1999.