Dentistry

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 1:11 pm on 1 March 2006.

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Photo of Rosie Winterton Rosie Winterton The Minister of State, Department of Health 1:11, 1 March 2006

As the hon. Gentleman said, I have visited his constituency. I know that there were considerable problems there, and I am glad that we have been able to assist him. His was one of the first areas that our support team went into to help with recruitment. I do not think that there were any NHS dentists there before that, but we managed to recruit eight into the area. I shall explain later how, under the present system, there will be room for extra capacity as the changes bed in, as well as the ability to have funding at local level to commission NHS dentistry if there are needs in the local area.

I want to explain how we are introducing a radical shake-up in regard to how NHS dentistry will be delivered in the long term. To go back to the basics of the plan, from April this year, primary care trusts will for the first time be able to commission and develop primary dental care services in ways that reflect the needs of their local populations. For the first time, they will have the financial power to commission new services when a dentist leaves the area or reduces their NHS commitment. That was one of the problems in the hon. Gentleman's constituency. For the first time, we will have a system of dental charges that is simple and transparent for patients, and a remuneration system that no longer encourages the drill and fill treadmill.

The new contract that we are offering to dentists will mean that a committed NHS dentist can expect to earn about £80,000 a year, with practice expenses on top of that. That £80,000 will be guaranteed for three years, for 5 per cent. less work. In return, dentists will be expected to carry out an agreed number of courses of treatment over the year—again, at least 5 per cent. below the levels in the old contract.