§ Mr. WoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to ensure that patients seeking a new dentist are able to continue receiving NHS treatment. [124626]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonGeneral dental practitioners are independent contractors and, as such, are free to choose the proportions of national health service or private dentistry they wish to provide. Under NHS terms of service, dentists who stop offering NHS treatment are required to complete any outstanding treatment on the NHS or notify the appropriate primary care trust (PCT) if this is not possible.
Where dentists withdraw from providing NHS dentistry, PCTs can apply to the Secretary of State for agreement to fund salaried dental practitioners under section 56 of the 1977 NHS Act.
NHS Direct can put patients in touch with sources of NHS dentistry including community dental services, dental access centres and general dental practitioners offering treatment under general dental services.
§ Mr. WoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to prevent dentists removing from their list patients who receive NHS treatment. [124627]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonGeneral dental practitioners are independent contractors and, as such, are free to choose the amount of national health service or private dentistry they wish to provide.
125WUnder the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill, the intention is to move to practice based contracts which will allow alternative ways of rewarding dentists to provide a defined level of service for a given number of people. Dentists will receive a more secure income in return for making a longer term commitment to the NHS.