Judith Cummins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Judith Cummins on 2016-07-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the long-term health costs associated with the increase in the number of dental extractions in children under the age of 10 in the last four years.
Alistair Burt
The tables below shows 1) the number of courses of treatment (CoT) for children age 10 and under in Primary Dental Care which included an extraction and 2) the number of Finished Consultant Episodes (FCEs) for children aged 10 and under including an extraction due to tooth decay.
During the same period, the population for children age 10 and under rose from 6.9 million to 7.3 million. The figures suggest the total rise in extractions and therefore increases in health costs are broadly in line with the increase in population of this age group over the same period.
1)
|
Financial year |
(CoT) Extractions per 100,000 |
Primary Care (CoT) |
Population |
change |
|
2014/15 |
3211.0 |
234,704 |
7,309,300 |
-8,274 |
|
2013/14 |
3380.7 |
242,978 |
7,187,200 |
9,186 |
|
2012/13 |
3317.0 |
233,792 |
7,048,300 |
718 |
|
2011/12 |
3376.9 |
233,074 |
6,902,100 |
Source: NHS Business Services Authority, extract from FP17 form clinical data set information 2011/12 – 2014/15
2)
|
Financial year |
FCE Extractions per 100,000 |
FCEs |
Population |
change |
|
2014/15 |
462.2 |
33,781 |
7,309,300 |
1040 |
|
2013/14 |
455.5 |
32,741 |
7,187,200 |
1466 |
|
2012/13 |
443.7 |
31,275 |
7,048,300 |
514 |
|
2011/12 |
445.7 |
30,761 |
6,902,100 |
Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre, Hospital Episode Statistics 2011/12 – 2014/15
However, the Government is serious about improving oral health for children. Initiatives to improve oral health include targeted interventions in ten high needs areas and reform of the dental contract to focus on prevention.
