§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of children were registered with an NHS dentist in each primary care trust in the last year for which figures are available. [131030]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonAt 30 June 2003, 6.7 million children were registered with a general dental service (GDS) dentist in England, 60.4 per cent. of the population of children. Information on the percentage of the population and of children registered with a dentist in each strategic health authority area and primary care trust (PCT) area by region at 30 June 2003 has been placed in the Library.
Primary care trusts have little influence over the provision of general dental services in their area under the current statutory arrangements. Proposals in the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill will give PCTs a duty to secure the provision of primary dental services. The proposed changes will help underpin a modernised high-quality primary dental service provided through contracts between PCTs and dental practices properly integrated with the rest of the national health service. With these new responsibilities will go the £1.2 billion financial resources currently held centrally.
Registrations lapse if patients do not return to their dentist within 15 months, and so the registration figure, exclude patients who have not been to their GDS dentis within the past 15 months. The figures also exclude patients who receive dental treatment from other NH! dental services including dental access centres.