Asked by: Steven Paterson (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure safe staffing levels in the NHS.
Answered by Philip Dunne
Staffing in our health service is a priority for this Government. That's why we have invested in the frontline. There are around 11,800 more full time equivalent hospital and community doctors since May 2010, and 13,300 more full time equivalent nurses than in May 2010. With almost 52,000 doctors and 51,000 nurses in training, we will continue to make sure we have the staff available to give patients high quality care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Asked by: Steven Paterson (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve children's dental health.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Department of Health is working with NHS England to test a contract focused on improving oral health, particularly in children. Public Health England has produced guidance to support local authorities in improving dental health, and to assist dental teams on preventing dental disease in young children. In last week’s budget we have announced the introduction of a sugar levy in 2018.