Asked by: Baroness Benjamin (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many NHS practices either terminated or did not renew their contract to provide NHS dental services in each of the past three years; what was the average size and annual income of these practices during the term of contract; and how that compares with the average income for NHS dental services for practices of a comparable size.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In the last three financial years, the number of dental contracts terminated by contractors, based on Primary Care Activity Report data held by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), are as follows:
- 80 in 2021/22;
- 107 in 2022/23;
- 12 in 2023/24.
The monthly data for all contracts is published by the NHSBSA, and is available on their website, in an online only format. The dataset also shows the commissioned activity and contractual payments for all National Health Service dental services provided for each financial year, at a national, commissioner, and contract level.
Asked by: Baroness Benjamin (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to introduce to a 'fee per item' system in NHS dental practices.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
To rebuild dentistry in the long term, the Government intends to reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of National Health Service dentists. As part of this, we will continue to consider how a full range of payment models can best support the delivery of dental care to patients.
Asked by: Baroness Benjamin (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any inequality in pay between NHS dental practices (1) with, and (2) without, high 'unit of dental activity' values.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No assessment has been made. As dental practices are private businesses, it falls to them to set employee pay and conditions.
Asked by: Baroness Benjamin (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to increase pay for qualified dental nurses.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
As dental practices are private businesses, it falls to them to set employee pay and conditions. Dental care in England could not function without the vital contribution of its dental care professionals, including dental nurses. Department officials are exploring how we can better support the whole dental team, including dental nurses, when working in National Health Service dentistry.
Asked by: Baroness Benjamin (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 27 October (HL2574), what assessment they have made of the financial impact of suspending prescription charges for 2022/23 on people living with sickle cell disease.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
No specific assessment has been made and we have no plans to implement a suspension. However, officials are working with organisations in the health and care system on how we can continue to protect the health of those with sickle cell disease. NHS England has also launched a sickle cell clinical pathway review, with contributions from patients living with sickle cell disease. Recommendations from this review will be made to NHS England’s Executive Quality Group at the end of November 2022.
Asked by: Baroness Benjamin (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) financial, and (2) health, impact of providing free prescriptions for patients with sickle cell disease.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
No specific assessment has been made. Approximately 89% of prescription items are currently dispensed free of charge and there are a range of exemptions from prescription charges, which those with sickle cell disease may be eligible for and already be in receipt of free prescriptions.
The cost of prescriptions can be reduced by purchasing a prescription pre-payment certificate. A holder of a 12-month certificate can get all the prescriptions for just over £2 per week. Additionally, people on a low income who do not qualify for an exemption from prescription charges can also seek support through the NHS Low Income Service, which provides assistance with health costs on an income-related basis.
Asked by: Baroness Benjamin (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 26 October (HL2576), what steps they are taking to raise awareness of pre-payment certificates for people living with sickle cell disease.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
The NHS Business Service Authority promotes the availability of pre-payment certificates for all patients, including those with sickle cell disease, online and through pharmacies.
Asked by: Baroness Benjamin (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 26 October (HL2576), how many people with sickle cell disease (1) are not eligible for prescriptions, and (2) have purchased a pre-payment certificate in the last five years.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
The information requested is not held centrally.
Asked by: Baroness Benjamin (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of a temporary suspension of NHS prescription charges on (1) patients, (2) the NHS, and (3) the economy, given the rising cost of living; and what plans they have, if any, to implement such a suspension.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
No recent assessment has been made and we have no plans to implement such a suspension. We have frozen prescription charges for 2022/23 to assist with the cost of living. In addition to the single prescription charge, this also applies to Prescription Payment Certificates (PPCs). The cost of a 12 month PPC remains at £108.10, which can be paid in instalments, to allow people receive their required medicines for just over £2 a week. People on a low income who do not qualify for an exemption may be eligible for help with prescription charges through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Approximately 89% of National Health Service prescription items are dispensed free of charge.
Asked by: Baroness Benjamin (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce free NHS prescriptions for medical conditions with existing health inequalities, such as sickle cell disease.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
No specific assessment has been made and there are no current plans to review or extend the prescription charge medical exemptions list to include long term conditions, such as sickle cell disease.
Approximately 89% of prescription items are currently dispensed free of charge and there are a range of exemptions from prescription charges for which those with sickle cell disease may meet the eligibility criteria and be in receipt of free prescriptions. To support those who do not qualify for an exemption from prescription charges, the cost of prescriptions can be capped by purchasing a prescription pre-payment certificate, which can be paid for in instalments. A holder of a 12-month certificate can get all the prescriptions they need for just over £2 per week. Additionally, those on a low income who do not qualify for an exemption from prescription charges can also seek help under the NHS Low Income Service, which provides help with health costs on an income-related basis.