§ Geraldine SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made with recruitment of NHS dentists in Morecambe and Lunesdale. [156853]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonFrom April 2005, primary care trusts will have a duty to secure the provision of primary dental services. With these new responsibilities will go the £1.3 billion financial resources currently held centrally. PCTs will in future be able to use these resources to meet local oral health needs.
Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority reports that Morecambe Bay PCT is currently recruiting dentists to work in the dental access centres and other national health service premises in Morecambe Bay.
National Health Service—Number of dentists1 September each year Health Authority 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Lancashire2 617 649 649 639 671 – Ribble Valley and Fulwood3 190 201 195 200 210 – Notes: 1 NHS dentists include dentists working in the General Dental Service (GDS), Hospital Dental Service (HDS), Community Dental Service (CDS), Personal Dental Service (PDS) and Salaried Dentists in the GDS. Dentist working in more than one dental service are included in each service apart from dentists working in both PDS and GDS who are counted in the GDS only. 2 The four former health authorities in Lancashire: Morecambe Bay, North West Lancashire, East Lancashire and South Lancashire. 3ast Lancashire Health Authority.