HC Deb 15 March 2004 vol 419 cc110-1W
Bob Spink

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists are accepting new NHS patients; and if he will make a statement. [157830]

Ms Rosie Winterton

Information on dental practices which are accepting new National Health Service patients can be found on the www.nhs.uk website.

Under current arrangements, dentists are able to vary their NHS commitment and so the number of practices accepting patients is subject to change in the light of such decisions by dentists to vary their NHS commitment.

On the basis of the most recent information, out of the total number of 8,587 practices in England, on 2 March there were:

  • 4,022 practices accepting children;
  • 2,817 practices accepting charge paying adults;
  • 3,164 practices accepting charge exempt adults;
  • 1,545 practices that carry out occasional NHS treatment to non-registered patients.

Overall, 93 per cent. of callers to NHS Direct are being directed to dentists within locally agreed distance standards who are accepting NHS patients.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population was registered with an NHS dentist in each primary care trust in each year since PCTs were established. [156648]

Ms Rosie Winterton

The information available is for general dental service (GDS) dentist registration rates for adults and children in England at 30 September 2002 and 2003. The registration rates for each primary care trust area has been placed in the Library.

Registrations lapse if patients do not return to their dentists within 15 months. Registration rates therefore exclude patients who have not been to their GDS dentist within the past 15 months. They also exclude patients who receive dental treatment from other National Health Service dental services such as personal dental services (PDS) and community dental services (CDS) as patients do not need to be registered to access these services.

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.

Patients wishing to see a GDS dentist can obtain details of dentists accepting patients in their area by contacting NHS Direct. 93 per cent. of callers to NHS Direct in the first 10 months of 2003 were given details of dentists accepting new NHS patients within local distance standards.

National health service: Number of registered patients as a proportion of the population September each year
30 September 1997 30 September 2002 30 September 2003
Health Authority/Primary Care Trust Child Adult Child Adult Child Adult
North Essex Health authority 0.66 0.51 0.64 0.46 — —
Chelmsford PCT 0.64 0.50 0.64 0.51