To ask the Scottish Executive how many general dental practitioners in NHS Forth Valley have (a) left and (b) joined the NHS in each of the last three years.

The information requested is provided in the following tables.

Number of General Dental Practitioners who left NHS Forth Valley^1,2,3; 2004 to 2006

Number of General Dental Practitioners who Joined NHS Forth Valley ^4,5,6; 2004 to 2006

Sources: MIDAS (Management Information & Dental Accounting System); MEDMAN (Medical and Dental Manpower Census).

Data extracted 20 March 2007.

Notes:

1. NHS general dental practitioners (salaried and non-salaried) who had an active list number in NHS Forth Valley at 30 September one year, and who had no active list numbers in NHS Forth Valley at 30 September of the following year.

2. Some NHS general dental practitioners may have left NHS Forth Valley but still provide NHS general dental services elsewhere in Scotland.

3. NHS general dental practitioners may cease providing NHS services on a temporary basis, or may move into a different NHS dental sector (i.e. community or hospital).

4. NHS general dental practitioners (salaried and non-salaried) who had an active list number in NHS Forth Valley at 30 September one year, and who had no active list numbers in NHS Forth Valley at 30 September of the previous year.

5. Some NHS general dental practitioners may have been providing NHS general dental services elsewhere in Scotland before they joined NHS Forth Valley as a general dental practitioner.

6. Some NHS general dental practitioners may have been providing NHS services in a different NHS dental sector (i.e. community or hospital) before they joined NHS Forth Valley as a general dental practitioner.