HC Deb 21 January 2002 vol 378 cc659-60W
Mr. Sanders

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the adult population in(a) Devon and (b) Torbay was registered with NHS dentists in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, (iii) 1999–2000 and (iv) 2000–01. [22802]

Ms Blears

The percentage of adults registered with a general dental service (GDS) dentist per head of population is shown in the table for South and West Devon health authority and North and East Devon health authority for 30 September in each of the years 1997–98 to 2000–01.

The registration rates for September 1997 are not comparable with the later figures. The September 1997 rates reflect a 24-month registration period; the later figures reflect a 15 month registration period.

Devon is covered by the South and West Devon HA and North and East Devon HA. Information is not available by constituency area for the percentage of adult registrations per population.

General dental services: percentage of the adult registrations1 per population2, 1997–98 to 2000–01
September each year South and West Devon HA North and East Devon HA
1997–983 3 51 3 50
1998–99 43 43
1999–2000 41 45
2000–01 42 48
1 Based on the number of adult registrations at September for each financial year.
2 ONS mid-year adult population estimates used to calculate percentage of adult patients registered.
3 Registration rates reflect a 24-month registration period rather than 15 months which is the basis of the later figures.
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the correlation between inadequate coverage of NHS dentistry in a given area and a higher than average incidence of oral cancer. [25389]

Ms Blears

With an incidence of oral cancer of some 2,500 new cases per year it is not possible to make significant comparisons with provision of national health service dentistry by area especially as confounding factors like use of tobacco and alcohol would need to be eliminated. Nevertheless, we recognise that dentists have a unique opportunity both to warn patients of the risks from smoking and to identify pre-cancerous signs of oral cancer. We are committed to improving access to NHS dentistry.