UK - NHS urged to back fluoride
NHS urged to back fluoride
Apr 7 2008 by Helen Rae, Evening Chronicle
HEALTH secretary Alan Johnson has urged the NHS to consider fluoridating tap water for those areas with poor dental health.
Up to £14m extra funding will be made available over the next three years by the Government to those Strategic Health Authorities who, following consultations, find the local community is in favour of the introduction of fluoridation schemes.
Academic studies show that oral health is better in areas where tap water is already fluoridated and that the number of children with tooth decay decreases by 15%.
Alan Johnson said: “Fluoridation is scientifically supported, it is legal, and it is our policy, but only two or three areas currently have it, and we need to go much further in areas where dental health needs to be improved.
“It is an effective and relatively easy way to help address health inequalities – giving children from poorer backgrounds a dental health boost that can last a lifetime, reducing tooth decay and thereby cutting down on the amount of dental work they need. But there are people who hold strong views on this subject, so it is important that any proposed schemes are fully and widely consulted on.
“The extra funding I am announcing means that, should local people decide to support fluoridation, SHAs have the resources to implement it.”
This new Government funding will allow SHAs in areas of poor dental health to meet the capital cost of fluoridation schemes without depleting funds designated for other health needs and facilities.
Apr 7 2008 by Helen Rae, Evening Chronicle
HEALTH secretary Alan Johnson has urged the NHS to consider fluoridating tap water for those areas with poor dental health.
Up to £14m extra funding will be made available over the next three years by the Government to those Strategic Health Authorities who, following consultations, find the local community is in favour of the introduction of fluoridation schemes.
Academic studies show that oral health is better in areas where tap water is already fluoridated and that the number of children with tooth decay decreases by 15%.
Alan Johnson said: “Fluoridation is scientifically supported, it is legal, and it is our policy, but only two or three areas currently have it, and we need to go much further in areas where dental health needs to be improved.
“It is an effective and relatively easy way to help address health inequalities – giving children from poorer backgrounds a dental health boost that can last a lifetime, reducing tooth decay and thereby cutting down on the amount of dental work they need. But there are people who hold strong views on this subject, so it is important that any proposed schemes are fully and widely consulted on.
“The extra funding I am announcing means that, should local people decide to support fluoridation, SHAs have the resources to implement it.”
This new Government funding will allow SHAs in areas of poor dental health to meet the capital cost of fluoridation schemes without depleting funds designated for other health needs and facilities.
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