HC Deb 14 September 2004 vol 424 cc1499-501W
Tom Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental practices in the London borough of Wandsworth provide NHS treatment; what the number was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [187607]

Mr. Hutton

The number of practices providing general dental service in Wandsworth Primary Care Trust (PCT) area between 1999 and 2004 is shown in the following table.

Number of general dental practices in Wandsworth PCT area at 30 September 1999 to 2003 and 30 June 2004
Number
1999 70
2000 69
2001 68
2002 67
2003 61
2004 59
Notes:
1. The number of practices in the PCT area have been estimated from practice postcodes information.
2. Some patients in the Wandsworth PCT area will attend dentists in other areas.
Source:
Dental Practice Board

Mr. Rosindell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints he received regarding the availability of NHS dentistry in the London Borough of Havering for(a) 1997 and (b) 2004; and what the figures are for all other London boroughs. [187727]

Mr. Hutton

The information requested is not collected centrally. Local trusts, in partnership with their health community, have responsibility for local services and the support systems which they have put in place and a corresponding responsibility to improve upon these. It is, therefore, appropriate that they investigate complains and respond accordingly.

However, Ministers received a total of 19 letters on dental access from e London area in the period from 1 January 2004 to the present.

Mr. Rosindell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists were operating in the London Borough of Havering in(a) 1997 and (b) 2004; and what the figures are for all other London boroughs. [187731]

Mr. Hutton

The numbers of general and personal dental service dentists in Havering Primary Care Trust (PCT) area and for all other London PCTs at June 1997 and June 2004 are shown in the table.

National health service. Number of dentists in London PCTs at June 1997 and June 2004
PCT 1997 2004
Havering 87 111
Barking and Dagenham 50 57
Barnet 181 208
Bexley Care Trust 94 95
Brent 157 169
Bromley 147 177
Camden 147 165
City and Hackney 99 94
Croydon 170 189
Ealing 200 191
Enfield 117 154
Greenwich 95 114
Hammersmith and Fulham 121 150
Haringey 124 144
Harrow 106 128
Hillingdon 105 127
Hounslow 139 149
Islington 92 119

National health service: Number of dentists in London PCTs at June 1997 and June 2004
PCT 1997 2004
Kensington and Chelsea 83 82
Kingston 68 81
Lambeth 130 141
Lewisham 116 127
Newham 82 97
Redbridge 105 144
Richmond and Twickenham 98 112
Southwark 110 99
Sutton and Merton 174 190
Tower Hamlets 72 93
Waltham Forest 80 99
Wandsworth 150 159
Westminster 204 193
Source:
Dental Practice Board.
Dentists are counted in each PCT in which they practice.