HC Deb 15 March 2004 vol 419 cc111-2W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to monitor the

Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of(a) adults and (b) children in the West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency were registered with an NHS dentist in 1997; and how many were registered with an NHS dentist at the most recent date for which figures are available. [160274]

Dr. Ladyman

[holding answer 11 March 2004]The information available is for general dental service (GDS) dentist registration rates for adults and children in North Essex health authority at 30 September 1997 and at 30 September 2002 and for Chelmsford Primary Care Trust for 30 September 2002 and 30 September 2003, and is shown in the table.

Registration will lapse if a patient does not return to their dentist within 15 months. Registration rates represent the proportion of the population who have attended a dentist under GDS arrangements in the previous 15 months. The registration period was changed for new registrations and registration renewals from September 1996. Previously the period for adults was 24 months and for children registration lapsed at the end of the following calendar year. The change caused registration numbers to fall between November 1997 and August 1998.

Registrations are included in the area of the dentist. The registration rates for some areas may be affected by some patients receiving their dental treatment in a different area from the one in which they live.

National health service dental services are also provided by the community dental service, personal dental service, salaried service of the GDS and hospital dental service. These services do not require the patient to be registered with a dentist before treatment.

competence of doctors practising cosmetic surgery; and if he will make a statement. [156720]

Dr. Ladyman

I refer my hon. Friend to the response given by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) on Monday 1 March 2004,Official Report, column 699W.

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