Written question asked by David Drew (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 November 2005. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Monday, 12 December 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dentistry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the new rules for patient charging for NHS dental services, with particular reference to the bodies responsible for collecting bad debts.

Answer: Under the proposed new arrangements for patient charges, dentists will—as now—be responsible for collecting national health service patient charges. The new general dental service and personal dental service contract regulations give primary care trusts new powers of assistance, including financial support, to help dentists who are unable to recover the necessary patient charges as a result of a patient's failure to pay the advertised patient charge for NHS services.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 28072; 440 c1801W;440 c1801W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Dental services Debts Dentistry Fees and charges NHS Patients Regulation
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk