UK - Cost probe on fluoride in water
Investigations are under way into the cost of adding fluoride into drinking water in central Lancashire.
The Lancashire Evening Post told a few months ago how health chiefs were looking into the possibility of putting fluoride into tap water in the area to tackle the high levels of tooth decay.It has now been confirmed large-scale water fluoridation can be done but a probe into the costs and benefits will still be carried out.Children in Preston have some of the worst levels of tooth decay in the country and more than half of five-year-olds in the city have had experience of tooth decay.Dental health specialists at Central Lancashire PCT are supporting the idea of water fluoridation, but want to know the benefits, costs and practicality of the move.Anna Delves, project manager for the North West Fluoridation Evaluation Group, said: "We are a group of people representing all the PCTs in the North West and are a selection of dental consulta
nts, public health specialists and communication leads."We are evaluating the idea of water fluoridation and are looking into the operability and the cost implications."We are working with United Utilities and are looking at whether it can be done and how it can be done."The aim is to put together a report and present it to all the PCTs to allow them to decide whether they want to go forward with it."We will not be dictating to the PCTs what they should do."It will be an unbiased report giving them all the information they need to make up their own mind."But it is not just a question of cost, but about how it will be funded and who is going to pay for what."Fluoride has been added to water in some parts of the country since 1964 and it is proven to improve dental hygiene.However, some people are opposed to the idea and fear it may have health implications.
Last Updated: 27 December 2007 8:59 AM
The Lancashire Evening Post told a few months ago how health chiefs were looking into the possibility of putting fluoride into tap water in the area to tackle the high levels of tooth decay.It has now been confirmed large-scale water fluoridation can be done but a probe into the costs and benefits will still be carried out.Children in Preston have some of the worst levels of tooth decay in the country and more than half of five-year-olds in the city have had experience of tooth decay.Dental health specialists at Central Lancashire PCT are supporting the idea of water fluoridation, but want to know the benefits, costs and practicality of the move.Anna Delves, project manager for the North West Fluoridation Evaluation Group, said: "We are a group of people representing all the PCTs in the North West and are a selection of dental consulta
nts, public health specialists and communication leads."We are evaluating the idea of water fluoridation and are looking into the operability and the cost implications."We are working with United Utilities and are looking at whether it can be done and how it can be done."The aim is to put together a report and present it to all the PCTs to allow them to decide whether they want to go forward with it."We will not be dictating to the PCTs what they should do."It will be an unbiased report giving them all the information they need to make up their own mind."But it is not just a question of cost, but about how it will be funded and who is going to pay for what."Fluoride has been added to water in some parts of the country since 1964 and it is proven to improve dental hygiene.However, some people are opposed to the idea and fear it may have health implications.
Last Updated: 27 December 2007 8:59 AM
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