Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Richard Younger-Ross (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Tuesday, 24 July 2007 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dental Health

Question: The Minister’s predecessor, along with Teignbridge district council, the Teignbridge primary care trust, myself and a local dentist, helped to provide good quality dental care for anyone in Teignbridge who wanted it. I congratulate her predecessor’s work for the Department on that. The new Devon primary care trust, however, is telling dentists in Teignbridge that they have to take new patients from anywhere in the county, which will undo all the good work of her predecessor. Will she consider that issue and find a way to protect the services provided by the dentists of Teignbridge to local residents?

Answer: I suggest that as the local Member of Parliament, the hon. Gentleman engages in a serious conversation with the PCT and that a consultation is carried out with the local community. I am sure that that would help them to decide their future.

Secondary information