Written question asked by Harold Best (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 5 April 2005. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 April 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to NHS dentistry in Leeds North West.

Answer: Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve access to NHS dentistry in Leeds, North-West. [222880] Ms Rosie Winterton: Leeds North West Primary Care Trust (PCT) has received £96,000 capital funding, which is being utilised through the PCTs dental incentive scheme, to ensure that the commitment of local dentists to the national health service is maintained. This funding will also support general dental practitioners in ensuring patient safety and improving practice premises. A further £42,000 revenue funding has been received by the Leeds North West PCT, which will provide three extra NHS dental sessions a week. In addition, the PCT is currently implementing an access scheme to provide urgent and routine treatment sessions for non-registered NHS patients in the area. By April 2005, Leeds North West PCT will have six general dental practices working under personal dental services (PDS) arrangements. These practices have successfully secured an additional £221,000 to increase the work force, benefiting an additional 1,355 new patients and enabling the re-registration of approximately 2,500 NHS patients. Leeds North West PCT is currently being supported through the West Yorkshire work force confederation to participate in the tranche four of the international dental recruitment campaign co-ordinated by the Department.

Secondary information