NHS:
2001 PCA(D)1

Health Department
Health Policy Directorate
Primary Care Unit

St Andrew's House
EDINBURGH EH1 3DG


Dear Colleague

GENERAL DENTAL SERVICES

AMENDMENT NO 78 TO THE STATEMENT OF
DENTAL REMUNERATION
CESSATION OF GENERAL ANAESTHESIA

Summary

1. This letter advises Primary Care Trusts, Island Health Boards and Practitioner Services Division that all item of service fees for the provision of general anaesthesia will be deleted from the next amendment to the Statement of Dental Remuneration, Amendment No 78, which will take effect from 1 April 2001.

Background

2. Following the Sheriff's determination regarding the fatal accident inquiry into the death of Darren Denholm at the Peffermill Dental Practice, the Scottish Executive Minister for Health and Community Care, Susan Deacon, gave an undertaking that general anaesthesia in primary care dental practice would be phased out as soon as planning allowed. The Scottish Executive has now informed the Scottish Dental Practice Committee that no item of service fees for general anaesthesia will be included in the statement of Dental Remuneration from 1 April 2001. A further letter will be issued shortly to NHS Trusts and Health Boards reviewing the hospital facilities available for the provision of general anaesthesia for dental treatment.

Action

3. Primary Care Trusts, Island Health Boards and Practitioner Services Division are asked to note:

3.1 that with effect from 1 April 2001, no item of services fees for general anaesthesia will be included in the Statement of Dental Remuneration; and


13 February 2001

______________________________

Addresses

For action
Chief Executives,
Primary Care NHS Trusts and
Island Health Boards

Director,
Practitioner Services Division

For information
Chief Executives,
Health Boards

Chief Executive
Common Services Agency _________________________


Enquiries to:

Lynne Morrison
Health Policy Directorate
Primary Care Unit
Room 31
St Andrew's House
EDINBURGH
EH1 3DG

Tel: 0131-244 2466
Fax: 0131-244 2326
email: Lynne.A.Morrison@scotland.gov.uk

_________________________

3.2 a further letter will be issued shortly on reviewing the hospital facilities available for the provisions of general anaesthesia for dental treatment.

4. Copies of the Memorandum to this letter are being sent to Primary Care Trusts/Island Health Boards under separate cover for urgent distribution to all dentists on their lists.

Yours sincerely

 

DR HAMISH WILSON

MEMORANDUM TO NHS:
2001 PCA(D)1

DENTISTS
NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
GENERAL DENTAL SERVICES

AMENDMENT NO 78 TO THE STATEMENT OF DENTAL REMUNERATION
CESSATION OF GENERAL ANAESTHESIA

This Memorandum advises that all item of service fees for the provision of general anaesthesia will be deleted from the next amendment to the Statement of Dental Remuneration, Amendment No 78, which will take effect from 1 April 2001. A further Memorandum summarising the various changes contained in Amendment No 78 will be issued in due course.

 

Scottish Executive Health Department
13 February 2001