§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the level of access to NHS dentistry by September. [2539]
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May 2001 June 1997 Health authority Number of over 12 month waiters Percentage of over 12 month waiters Number of over 12 month waiters Percentage of over 12 month waiters Hillingdon 250 6.0 313 5.9 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster 99 2.2 134 2.6 Redbridge and Waltham Forest 811 8.0 1,288 9.1 Bedfordshire 725 7.0 293 2.6 Berkshire 516 3.6 542 3.7 Buckinghamshire 777 5.7 701 4.9 Croydon 606 8.8 292 3.4 East Kent 1,122 6.8 41 0.3 West Kent 1,551 6.6 799 3.1 Kingston and Richmond 448 6.2 442 5.4 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 1,603 9.9 2,301 11.4 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth 594 5.9 503 4.1 East Surrey 754 8.6 417 4.1 West Surrey 1,522 10.5 1,452 8.9 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove 1,160 6.1 650 3.2 West Sussex 1,816 9.7 1,672 7.8 Barking and Havering 521 5.1 460 4.0 Brent and Harrow 439 5.3 717 6.3 Camden and Islington 263 4.4 221 2.5 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow 726 5.3 1,549 9.9 East London and the City 536 4.5 691 4.9 North Essex 1,331 6.4 1,010 4.1 South Essex 493 2.9 202 1.1 South Lancashire 258 3.2 432 4.4 Liverpool 504 4.7 683 5.3 Manchester 697 6.1 891 7.2 Morecambe Bay 183 2.7 101 1.4 St. Helens and Knowsley 319 3.4 345 3.5 Salford and Trafford 849 6.7 763 5.6 Sefton 287 3.9 521 5.7 Stockport 248 3.5 264 3.6 West Pennine 285 2.3 235 1.7 Northamptonshire 623 4.5 460 3.1 Oxfordshire 487 4.5 842 7.3 Suffolk 617 4.0 618 3.7 Barnsley 18 0.4 104 2.1
§ Ms BlearsIn September 1999 my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister promised that within two years everyone will be able to access national health service dentistry if and when they want it via NHS Direct. All health authorities now have in place dentistry action plans to ensure that everyone in the local area can access NHS dentistry if they want it within a reasonable time and distance.