§ Sir Paul BeresfordTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish an order under section 60 of the Health Act 1999 to amend the Dentists Act 1984 to introduce Clinical Dental Technicians and other Professions Complementary to Dentistry; what consultation period will be specified for the order; and if he will make a statement. [138045]
§ Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 11 November 2003]I expect to publish the Order in the spring. Consultation on the draft Order will run for three months, as required by the Health Act, 1999.
§ Dr. Jack CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of(a) the availability of and (b) access to national health dental services in Copeland and West Cumbria. [137092]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 10 November 2003]At the end of June, in the West Cumbria primary care trust area, there were 43 dentists who provided national health service dentistry in the general dental service (GDS). In addition, 70,000 patients were registered with a GDS dentist. This represents 54 per cent. of its resident population and 51 per cent. of adults and 67 per cent. of children.
Registrations cover patients seen within the last 15 months.
A dental access centre in Egremont, West Cumbria also provides routine and emergency NHS treatment to patients.