§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of dental treatment was for people over the age of 65 in(a) Shrewsbury and Atcham, (b) Shropshire and (c) England in each year since 1997. [114761]
§ Mr. LammyThe average cost of a course of dental treatment in the general dental service (GDS) for people 65 years of age and over in Shropshire health authority (HA) area, Shropshire County Primary Care Trust (PCT) area. Telford and Wrekin PCT area and England in 1997–98 to 2002–03 is shown in the table. These costs are for the payment to the dentist and include the patient charge where applicable. Dentists receive other payments, such as continuing care payments for registered patients of 63.7 pence per month for patients aged 65 and over in 2002–03 and commitment payments which depend on the amount of GDS work done.
Shropshire County PCT, Telford and Wrekin PCT and Shropshire HA are the administrative health authorities for the Shropshire area that includes Shrewsbury and Atcham.
The responsibility for the delivery of local dental services transferred from HAs to PCTs on 1 October 2002.
planning to develop best practice guidance on training pharmacists in the supply of emergency contraception under a patient group direction.
Funding for pharmacy schemes is a matter for primary care trusts. Central funding to support the implementation of local teenage pregnancy strategies has increased by 50 per cent. this year, 2003–04, to £24 million. If a local need to improve early access to emergency contraception is indicated, some areas may choose to use some of this funding to develop pharmacy schemes. In addition the document Effective Commissioning of Sexual Health and HIV Services 493W advises that open access to emergency contraception for women of all ages should be maintained over weekends and public holidays.