Chamber and committees

Based on data held by the Department of Health and ISD Scotland, the ratio of all dentists providing services within the NHS is 48.94 per 100,000 population in Scotland and 43.81 per 100,000 population in England. These figures include dentists working in General Dental Services, Community Dental Services and Hospital Dental Services.

From 1997-98 onwards, this category excludes expenditure on nursing homes. The gross expenditure has increased by £21.3 million between 1997-98 and 1999-2000 (net expenditure increase of £12.6 million).

Direct payments are available to disabled people, aged 18 and over, who have been assessed as needing community care services, including care in their own homes. Direct payments can be used to purchase all community care services except permanent residential care. They can, however, be used to purchase temporary residential care subject to a maximum set down in regulations.

Entry to the Dentists Register is an issue for the General Dental Council. This body and such issues are reserved and dealt with through the Department of Health in England.Entering the Dentists Register in the UK is not the same as working in the UK. Entry to the register does not guarantee entry to the UK or a work permit to work here. Home Office permission must still be granted and immigration criteria satisfied, for dentists from outwith the European Economic Area (EEA). Dentists who qualify in the EEA are entitled to free movement within that area, including the UK.In Scotland, 98.3% of General Dental Practitioners trained in the UK, (91% in Scotland) 1.8% elsewhere (EEA including Ireland and overseas). The Scottish Executive Health Department is pursuing policies aimed at retaining Scottish graduates in Scotland.

The Executive is taking a range of measures to tackle alcohol misuse in Scotland. Work is currently going on to develop a nationally recognisable proof of age card in conjunction with Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and Young Scot. Funding is also being provided for Health Eduction Board for Scotland, Alcohol Focus Scotland and Drinkwise which raise awareness of alcohol misuse and undertake preventative activities with young people and community groups. Health education in schools is being improved in a number of ways and the Executive is also continuing to support the work of Alcohol Misuse Co-ordinating Committees which co-ordinate local prevention and treatment activities.The Scottish Advisory Committee on Alcohol Misuse (SACAM) was set up in 1999 to advise on the development of a national strategy. SACAM, which I chair, has taken a central role in advising on the development of the Executive's national Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems which we expect to publish by the end of the year.

The Food Standards Agency advises that, since July 1999, there have been no recorded imports of meat or meat products arriving from third countries requiring inspection at Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) in Scotland.Imports into Scotland from other member states, and through BIPs elsewhere in the UK, must comply with the general food safety requirements applicable to all food in Scotland and are not subject to further import inspections.

There is not at present any reliable method of identifying patients at a high risk of developing osteoporosis, nor is there any evidence that physiotherapy can do anything to prevent it from developing. The only measures known to prevent the development of osteoporosis are exercise, low alcohol consumption, not smoking and a balanced diet with a higher consumption of calcium and vitamin D and lowered consumption of sodium, protein and caffeine. These are all measures which are actively promoted by the Executive, because they reduce the risks of developing many other conditions as well as osteoporosis.

The narrative and fees for sedation, contained in the Statement of Dental Remuneration, have been reviewed to increase patient safety.The Executive is currently looking at how orthodontics should be delivered in future in Scotland.

Funding has been made available towards dentists continuing professional development and will be made available in respect of the caries prevention scheme.

There has been considerable development and support for all of the professions complementary to dentistry. The Executive are currently developing a strategy for the education and training of these professions, which will be launched within the next two months.