Agenda item

Oral Health Update

Minutes:

The Board considered a report of the Director of Public Health County Durham, Adult and Health Services, Durham County Council that gave an update on the possibility of implementing water fluoridation in response to the poor levels of oral health and associated harms locally (for copy see file of Minutes). 

 

The Chairman welcomed Peter Kelly, Regional Director for Public Health England to the meeting.

 

The Director of Public Health said that oral health was very important for general health and wellbeing and she reported that there were inequalities throughout the County with regards to tooth decay in children.  She went on to highlight the benefits of fluoridation.

 

The Regional Director for Public Health England explained how evidence had shown where there was natural occurring fluoride or from schemes where fluoride had been introduced, tooth decay was a lot less than areas without it.   He added that Public Health England had found no evidence of any adverse effects.

 

The Board were advised of the 3 options and the preferred option identified at paragraph 1 of the report would also benefit residents in Sunderland and South Tyneside and would therefore require agreement and joint working:-

 

·         Option 1. According to Northumbrian Water the simplest and most economic method of fluoridating a water supply is to construct the fluoridation plant at all the water treatments works supplying County Durham.  These Water Treatment Works also supply water to properties within Sunderland and South Tyneside Council boundaries. The capital cost is approximately £1,200,000.

 

On answering a question from the Chairman about timescales, the Regional Director Public Health England said that it was important to get the process precisely correct and therefore timescales might longer than outlined.  He advised that the feasibility study would take 3-6 months once agreement had been reached to go ahead by Sunderland and South Tyneside.  A technical appraisal would then be carried out followed by a consultation in the Autumn of next year.  Public Health England would support the local authorities with any subsequent consultation.

 

The Chairman commented that it was important to get the consultation phase right and she believed that this would help to give young people the best start in life.  The Regional Director of Public Health England said that Durham were leading on this and agreed that the evidence was overwhelming and he believed that this was a very strong proposal.

 

Councillor Gunn asked how long it would take to see the benefits of this scheme and was informed that once water was fluoridated this had an immediate effect on children and if based on the current timeline this would be after 2020.

 

Resolved:

(i)            That option 1 involving the construction of a fluoridation plant at all water treatment works in County Durham be adopted as the preferred option be agreed.

(ii)          That the progression to a full technical appraisal of fluoridation of County Durham (the central supply area) be agreed.

(iii)         That a further report would be submitted to the Board following completion of the technical appraisal be noted.

 

 

 

Supporting documents: