§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients were registered with an NHS dentist in(a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire in each year since 1997; [93022]
(2) what the average waiting time for an appointment was for the dental access centre in Shrewsbury in each month since its inception; [93024]
817W(3) how many patients were waiting for treatment at the dental access centre in Shrewsbury in each month since it opened. [93025]
§ Mr. LammyThe table shows the number of registrations in Shropshire health authority at 30 September in each of the years 1997 to 2002.
Registrations lapse if patients do not return to their dentists within 15 months. Registrations will exclude patients who have not been to their general dental service (CDS) dentist within the past 15 months and patients who receive dental treatment from other national health service dental services.
During the period 1997 to 2002, the registration numbers are affected by the change in the registration periods for adults and children. Also, the figures do not include patients attending the dental access centres which opened during the period and whose patients are not registered.
Patients wishing to register with a GDS dentist can obtain details of dentists accepting new patients by contacting NHS Direct.
Monthly waiting list information for the Shrewsbury dental access centre is not collected.
General Dental Service: Number of registrations in Shropshire Health Authority area at 30 September 1997 to 2002 At 30 September Number of patients registered1 1997 217,700 1998 191,000 1999 187,000 2000 186,000 2001 179,800 2002 182,300 1The registration number for September 1997 is not comparable with the later figures because of the change in the registration periods.