Parliamentary questions answered
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- Published: Tuesday, 07 February 2017 07:58
- Written by News Editor
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Last week some questions relating to dentistry were raised in the House of Commons. Steve McCabe asked about numbers of people ‘ registered’. Karen Lumley asked about plans to improve access. Steven Baker asked about dentists investigated by the GDC.
Steve McCabe Labour, Birmingham, Selly Oak asked for an estimate of the number of children who are ‘registered’ with a dentist.
Minister David Mowat replied that patients do not have to register to receive NHS dental services so information is not held in the form requested, although information is available on the number of children receiving NHS dental services in a 12 month period, which is published quarterly.
Steve McCabe also asked what proportion of the population is registered with a dentist.
Minister David Mowat replied that information is not held in the form requested.
Steve McCabe additionally asked how many dental surgeries there were in England.
Minister David Mowat replied that information is not held by individual dental surgery so it is not possible to provide information on the number of dental surgeries or the number of those that have closed.
Karen Lumley Conservative, Redditch asked what plans there were to improve access to affordable dentistry services.
Minister David Mowat replied that overall access to NHS dentistry continues to increase. 22 million adults were seen by dentist in the two year period up to Sepember 2016 and 6.7 million children were seen by a dentist in the previous 12 months. This represents 51.3% of the adult population and 57.9% of the child population. The latest patient survey also showed that nationally 93% of patients who had tried to get a dental appointment in the previous 24 months were successful.
He continued: “New ways of providing care are being trialled to further improve oral health and increase access, by preventing as well as treating disease, so freeing up resource. Alongside this a new programme, the Starting Well Programme, is being developed to work in 13 high needs areas to improve access to dental services for children known to be at greater risk of dental disease.”
He also said: “NHS dental treatment remains affordable. All children receive free NHS treatment. Charges for NHS treatment for adults remain heavily subsidised and there is also partial help with charges for those on low incomes.”
Steven Baker Conservative, Wycombe asked how many GDC registered dentists had filed for bankruptcy since 2006; and how many dental practices with Limited status have filed for individual voluntary arrangements since 2006.
Minister David Mowat replied that the Department does not hold information on how many GDC registered dentists have filed for bankruptcy or how many dental practices with limited status have filed for individual voluntary arrangements.
Steven Baker also asked how many GDC registered dentists had been prosecuted or been subject to fitness to practice judgements as a result of failing to pay dental laboratory accounts since 2006.
Minister Philip Dunne replied that the Department does not hold the information requested, adding that the GDC was the independent regulator of dentists in the United Kingdom and is responsible for dentist registration.
Steven Baker also asked what steps the GDC is taking to manage cases that fall under section 6.1.3 in the GDC's standard for the dental team document.
Again minister Philip Dunne replied that the Department does not hold the information requested. He added that the GDC had provided the following information:
‘The GDC is not taking specific steps to manage cases that fall under any particular standard. The GDC treats all allegations against registrants in the same way and applies the same questions in the fitness to practise process. The GDC reminds registrants of their responsibilities under particular standards, and about paying bills and professional fees on time.
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