67 Per Cent Variation Found In NHS Dental Care Investment

Mon, 31 Mar 2008

The amount of money being spent on NHS dental care has been found to vary considerably across England .

New data from the Information Centre for health and social care has revealed that spend per head on NHS dental services (paid for by the NHS and through patient charges collected at practices) increased from £27 per head of the population to £39 between 1997/98 and 2005/06.

The report, which refers to spending in England on NHS dental care before the new contract of April 2006, shows that gross expenditure on dental care in the UK increased by 53 per cent between 1997/98 and 2005/06 - from £1.293 billion to £1.977 billion.

In 2005/06, Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority (SHA) increased their spend from 1997/98 by 70 per cent to £50 per head.

Meanwhile, Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA were found to have spent just £30 per head, a rise of just 25 per cent on 1997/98 figures.

South Yorkshire SHA showed the largest percentage increase in expenditure (69 per cent) over the seven year period, from £37.2 million to £62.7 million.

The news follows figures published last month which highlighted the lack of access for patients to dentists as a result the new contract .

Over 500,000 fewer patients were found to have received treatment during the last two years compared with the two years before the contract was introduced.
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