§ Mr. FallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have opted out of the NHS in each year since 1997. [34790]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 11 February 2002]: Available information covers the number of dentists leaving the general dental service (GDS) in England and is shown in the table for the years 1996–97 to 2000–01.
340WThe number of leavers covers all reasons for leaving the GDS including final retirement from dental work, moves to other parts of the national health service and dentists taking career breaks as well as those who left to practice solely privately. Figures from 1998–99 onwards are inflated by the transfer of some dentists from the GDS to some personal dental service (PDS) pilots. The total number of dentists includes principals on a health authority list, assistants and vocational dental practitioners.
General dental service (GDS): Number of dentists who left the GDS from 1996–97 to 2000–01, England Year Principals Assistants Vocational trainees Total 1996–97 692 64 78 834 1997–98 738 85 77 900 1998–991 761 106 105 972 1999–2-001 780 157 95 1,032 2000–011 875 181 136 1,192 1 Figures affected by the transfer of some dentists from the GDS to the PDS