Written question asked by Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative) on Monday, 6 February 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 February 2006. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Monday, 27 February 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dentistry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to increase the number of NHS dentists in Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency.

Answer: From April 2006, new contracts for dentists will abolish the traditional fee per item remuneration system and support new ways of working. Evidence from personal dental services pilot schemes is that these new ways of working free up significant capacity that dentists can use to spend more time with patients and provide more preventative care.Dentists' current national health service earnings will be protected for at least three years and there will be a 5 per cent. reduction in the courses of treatment that general dental services practitioners are expected to carry out each year.From April 2006, primary care trusts (PCTs) will also have devolved responsibility and ring-fenced budgets for commissioning primary dental services. This means that, if a dentist leaves the NHS or reduces their NHS commitment, the resources stay with the PCT to be re-invested in local dental services.

Secondary information