UK - Fluoride could be introduced into Stockton's water supply
Water Moves
Evening Gazette - Middlesbrough Nov 02, 12:30 PM EST
Fluoride could be introduced into Stockton's water supply in a bid to address a lack of dental provision in the borough. There are currently no dentists offering NHS treatment for new adult patients in the Stockton area.
Many Teesside surgeries switched to private care after the introduction of a new NHS dental contract earlier this year, which they claim is unworkable. Stockton Council's Health Select Committee has now carried out a review of dental provision in the borough, hearing from dentists, Tees Dental Advisors, North Tees Primary Care Trust (PCT) and other interested organisations.
In a report due before Stockton Council's Cabinet today, the committee urges the North East Strategic Health Authority to undertake consultation in Stockton Borough to "determine the level of support for the introduction of fluoridation". Kamini Shah, a consultant in public health for 10 PCTs in County Durham and the Tees Valley, said other boroughs like Hartlepool benefit from the natural fluoridation of water.
A league table published by the British Fluoridation Society in April into the state of oral health of five-year-olds illustrates the divide. The table puts Hartlepool 141 places higher than North Tees, with its five-year-olds having almost half the amount of decayed, missing or filled teeth than the same age group in Stockton.
The select committee said it is "aware the issue of artificial fluoridation being added to a water supply can engender opposition and has met with resistance from Northumbria Water in the past". But it added that "if formal consultation demonstrates local support, the strategic health authority may request the relevant water supplier to make the necessary technical arrangements".
The committee also heard how North Tees PCT is aiming to keep as many practices as possible in the NHS and to develop new services to meet local needs.
Evening Gazette - Middlesbrough Nov 02, 12:30 PM EST
Fluoride could be introduced into Stockton's water supply in a bid to address a lack of dental provision in the borough. There are currently no dentists offering NHS treatment for new adult patients in the Stockton area.
Many Teesside surgeries switched to private care after the introduction of a new NHS dental contract earlier this year, which they claim is unworkable. Stockton Council's Health Select Committee has now carried out a review of dental provision in the borough, hearing from dentists, Tees Dental Advisors, North Tees Primary Care Trust (PCT) and other interested organisations.
In a report due before Stockton Council's Cabinet today, the committee urges the North East Strategic Health Authority to undertake consultation in Stockton Borough to "determine the level of support for the introduction of fluoridation". Kamini Shah, a consultant in public health for 10 PCTs in County Durham and the Tees Valley, said other boroughs like Hartlepool benefit from the natural fluoridation of water.
A league table published by the British Fluoridation Society in April into the state of oral health of five-year-olds illustrates the divide. The table puts Hartlepool 141 places higher than North Tees, with its five-year-olds having almost half the amount of decayed, missing or filled teeth than the same age group in Stockton.
The select committee said it is "aware the issue of artificial fluoridation being added to a water supply can engender opposition and has met with resistance from Northumbria Water in the past". But it added that "if formal consultation demonstrates local support, the strategic health authority may request the relevant water supplier to make the necessary technical arrangements".
The committee also heard how North Tees PCT is aiming to keep as many practices as possible in the NHS and to develop new services to meet local needs.
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