Written question asked by David Hinchliffe (Labour) on Friday, 17 September 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 21 October 2004. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Thursday, 21 October 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of the additional dentists to be working in the primary dental services by 2011 as anticipated in the Primary Care Dental Workforce Review; what estimate he has made of expenditure on dental nurses to assist the additional dentists needed by 2011 in the primary dental services sector, as anticipated in the Primary Care Dental Workforce Review; what estimate he has made of the cost of additional (a) dental equipment and (b) surgeries required to support the projected increase in NHS dentists; and what mechanisms will be used to ensure that such resources will be allocated to those areas in greatest need.

Answer: Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of the additional dentists to be working in the primary dental services by 2011 as anticipated in the Primary Care Dental Workforce Review; [189834] (2) what estimate he has made of expenditure on dental nurses to assist the additional dentists needed by 2011 in the primary dental services sector, as anticipated in the Primary Care Dental Workforce Review; [189836] (3) what estimate he has made of the cost of additional (a) dental equipment and (b) surgeries required to support the projected increase in NHS dentists; and what mechanisms will be used to ensure that such resources will be allocated to those areas in greatest need. [189837] Ms Rosie Winterton: Our expansion of the dental workforce is already underway with the recruitment of 1,000 additional dentists to the national health service by October 2005. In addition, by 2011, the first cohort of students to fill the additional 170 training places for dental undergraduates, that we are funding from October 2005, will be entering the workforce. We estimate that the cost to the NHS, net of the income contributed through patients' charges, but including remuneration for premises, equipment and ancillary staff, would be £130 million at current prices. In 2005-06 we are allocating an extra £250 million to NHS dentistry, an increase of 19.3 per cent., compared to spending in 2003-04.

Secondary information