Consultation timetable

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority
Southampton
S0164GX
Tel (Switchboard): Direct Fax: Direct Dial:
023 8072 5400 023 8072 5405 023 8072 5404
www.hiow.nhs.uk gareth .cruddace@hiowha.nhs.uk
7 April 2005
Dr Julian Lewis, MP
3 The Parade Southampton Road Cadnam
Hampshire S040 2NG
Dear Dr Lewis
Fluoridation: Process of Consulting the Public
I can now reply to your letter dated 30 March regarding the public consultation on water fluoridation. The responsibility for considering the dental health of the local population, and whether this might be improved by water fluoridation, rests
with the local Primary Care Trust. If the PCT then approves the principle of water fluoridation and wishes to pursue the possibility of a scheme for its population, it would first ask the Strategic Health Authority to undertake cost and feasibility studies to see if a viable and cost-effective potential scheme could be identified.
Should this be the case, the SHA would then undertake a public consultation, in which everyone living and working in the area covered by the potential scheme would have an opportunity to contribute. If a majority was in favour, the SHA would then ask the water company to proceed. Although the final piece of the new legislation - Regulations Governing Consultation and Indemnities came into effect on 1 April, the Department of Health intends to issue guidance, and we would await this before embarking on public consultations.
Yours sincerely

Gareth Cruddace
Chief Executive