§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he plans to introduce free dental care to those who are unemployed or on low incomes; [49678]
(2) what NHS dental services have to be paid for and by whom; and if he plans to lower dental charges. [49677]
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§ Jacqui SmithMany patients receiving national health service dental treatment are either exempt from charges or can receive partial help with the cost. People who fall into the following categories are exempt from charges
Aged under 18.Aged under 19 and in full-time education.Receiving income support or income based jobseeker's allowance.Pregnant or has borne a child within the last 12 calendar months.Receiving working families tax credits or disabled person's tax credits, which are not reduced by more than £72.20 per week.Patients not entitled to free treatment may be able to pay a reduced amount under the NHS low income scheme.
Patients who are not exempt from charges pay 80 per cent. of the cost of their treatment, up to a maximum of £366 per course of treatment. The NHS pays the remaining 20 per cent., and any charges over and above £366.
There are no immediate plans to change the exemption categories or the proportion of the charge paid by patients.
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the provision of NHS dental care; and what measures the Government have taken to increase this provision; [49675]
(2) how many dentists there are in the NHS; and what action can be taken if someone cannot gain access to an NHS dentist. [49676]
§ Jacqui SmithMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible for the provision of dental services in England. Provision of services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the devolved Administrations.
22,439 national health service dentists were working in England at 30 September 2001. This includes dentists working in the general dental service (GDS), personal dental service, community and hospital dental services and salaried dentists in the GDS.
This figure is on a headcount basis rather than whole time equivalent and includes those working part-time. Some dentists work in more than one dental service. These dentists will be counted in each service apart from dentists working in both PDS and GDS who are counted in the GDS only.
Following the Prime Minister's pledge the systems are now operating for patients to obtain national health service dental treatment by phoning NHS Direct. NHS Direct is handling about 10,000 dental calls a month and directing patients on how to access local services. Where local dentists are not registering new patients, NHS Direct will be able to inform them of other local arrangements providing access to NHS dentistry.
We are committed to ensuring that NHS dentistry is available to all who want it. In supporting this commitment the Government have invested over £100 million in the last two years. Significant resources have been invested in personal dental service pilots to improve access to NHS dentistry in areas with significant problems.