The current level of patient charges in Wales has remained the same since April 2006 and is set to stay at the 2006 level for 2010/11: The charges are:
* Band 1 – Diagnosis, treatment planning and maintenance: £12
* Band 2 – Treatment: £39
* Band 3 – Provision of appliances: £177
* Urgent treatment: £12
Health Minister Edwina Hart said: “Thanks to significant extra investment from the Welsh Assembly Government, access to general dental services continues to improve although I appreciate that there may be particular areas where access is still difficult.
“The latest figures show that more work is being done for the NHS by more dentists in Wales. Areas where access has proved difficult in the past have seen some of the greatest improvements. In the Hywel Dda LHB area for example, there are now over 40,000 more people accessing NHS dental care than in March 2006.
“By freezing dental charges again we are maintaining access to NHS dentistry for Welsh citizens and helping to tackle oral health inequalities.
“In addition to increasing access to dentists, we are also investing in raising awareness of people’s responsibility in taking care of their own oral health as they should for their general health and well-being. Simple steps, such as people brushing their teeth thoroughly with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, can make a significant difference to improve their oral health.”
