UK - Plans to cut tooth decay in children
Plans to cut tooth decay in children
By Phil Hill
PLANS to cut tooth decay in Somerset's children and improve access to routine and emergency NHS dental treatment have been revealed.
On Wednesday, Somerset Primary Care Trust is expected to approve a new dental strategy to: *reduce tooth decay in children by encouraging regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste; *improve access to dental services and target preventative dental care in communities of greatest social deprivation; *ensure routine dental patients can access an NHS dentist within 10 miles or within 48 hours (25-mile radius) in urgent cases; *improve dental care for the frail, elderly and other vulnerable groups; *maintain and develop a well-trained NHS dental workforce.
Meanwhile, Somerset PCT is investing £2.6million in four new dental facilities by next April and pumping more resources into NHS practices experiencing extra demand.
advertisementTanya Whittle, deputy director of primary care performance and co-author of the strategy, said: "Maintaining good oral hygiene, a balanced diet and regular dental care is important whether you are young or old.
"Smoking, alcohol and a poor diet can all lead to poor oral health.
"The changes to the national dental contract didn't result in Somerset dentists abandoning the NHS.
"On the contrary, we have practitioners eager and willing to offer more routine and emergency NHS dental care.
"Access to an NHS dentist remains generally good, but we want to target future investment in those communities which have high levels of social deprivation or rural isolation."
People in Somerset looking for routine NHS dentist care or emergency dental treatment can call the Somerset NHS dental helpline on 0845-7697691.
*Somerset PCT's oral health strategy can be found by clicking on the link below.
*Somerset PCT spends £22million a year funding local NHS dental services to a population of 530,000.
*71 dental practices in Somerset currently treat NHS patients.
*17 practices in Somerset towns currently register new NHS patients.
*The PCT funds an additional 200 emergency dental sessions each week for patients who may not be registered with an NHS dentist.
*An estimated 60% of the population access an NHS dentist, although a million fewer people accessed NHS dental treatment over the last two years.
What no mention of fluoridation why couldn't Southampton do the same?
By Phil Hill
PLANS to cut tooth decay in Somerset's children and improve access to routine and emergency NHS dental treatment have been revealed.
On Wednesday, Somerset Primary Care Trust is expected to approve a new dental strategy to: *reduce tooth decay in children by encouraging regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste; *improve access to dental services and target preventative dental care in communities of greatest social deprivation; *ensure routine dental patients can access an NHS dentist within 10 miles or within 48 hours (25-mile radius) in urgent cases; *improve dental care for the frail, elderly and other vulnerable groups; *maintain and develop a well-trained NHS dental workforce.
Meanwhile, Somerset PCT is investing £2.6million in four new dental facilities by next April and pumping more resources into NHS practices experiencing extra demand.
advertisementTanya Whittle, deputy director of primary care performance and co-author of the strategy, said: "Maintaining good oral hygiene, a balanced diet and regular dental care is important whether you are young or old.
"Smoking, alcohol and a poor diet can all lead to poor oral health.
"The changes to the national dental contract didn't result in Somerset dentists abandoning the NHS.
"On the contrary, we have practitioners eager and willing to offer more routine and emergency NHS dental care.
"Access to an NHS dentist remains generally good, but we want to target future investment in those communities which have high levels of social deprivation or rural isolation."
People in Somerset looking for routine NHS dentist care or emergency dental treatment can call the Somerset NHS dental helpline on 0845-7697691.
*Somerset PCT's oral health strategy can be found by clicking on the link below.
*Somerset PCT spends £22million a year funding local NHS dental services to a population of 530,000.
*71 dental practices in Somerset currently treat NHS patients.
*17 practices in Somerset towns currently register new NHS patients.
*The PCT funds an additional 200 emergency dental sessions each week for patients who may not be registered with an NHS dentist.
*An estimated 60% of the population access an NHS dentist, although a million fewer people accessed NHS dental treatment over the last two years.
What no mention of fluoridation why couldn't Southampton do the same?
posted by Bill at
9:33 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home