UK Portsmouth plans to fluoridate - from Ann

Yesterday afternoon I received a ‘phone call from Nick Brooks health reporter of The News. He attended yesterday’s public meeting of the Portsmouth PCT and it seems they plan to hold a debate on fluoridation on 29 March. He plans (more exciting stories permitting!) to get an article into the paper today and said he would be asking for readers’ comments.You may not know that both the Portsmouth and East Hampshire & Fareham PCTs have agreed that we may have a slot to put our case at their March meetings. The press will be at both meetings and the general public may also attend. Portsmouth City say on their website that:

Questions are invited from the public and must be submitted in writing (or e-mail) 5 days before to : Maria Smith, Personal Assistant to CEO, Chair & PEC, Portsmouth City Primary Care Trust, Trust Central Office, St James’ Hospital, Locksway Road, Portsmouth, PO4 BLD, e-mail address: maria.smith@ports.nhs.uk.
The details are as follows:
· East Hampshire and Fareham & Gosport, 22.3.06 at 9.00 am in the Ferneham Hall, Fareham
· Portsmouth, 29.3.06 at 6.30 pm in the Entertainments Hall, St James’ Hospital, Locksway Road, Portsmouth
You may be also interested to know that Portsmouth Water have confirmed the costs of installing fluoridation plants are likely to be in the range of £500,000 and £1m per plant to say nothing of the running costs. Can or should they afford this expense?
Any support you are able to give us at either writing to the press or attending the meeting armed with questions would be much appreciated.