UK - Despite much debate, fluoride may not reach some of the most deprived areas

Despite much debate, fluoride may not reach some of the most deprived areas
EXCLUSIVE
• By Jon Reeve
jon.reeve@dailyecho.co.uk
WATER bosses have admitted it is likely fluoride will not be delivered to all the areas expected under the controversial scheme planned for Hampshire, the Daily Echo can reveal.
That could mean some of the most deprived areas of Southampton, where tooth decay in children is at its worst, will not receive the dosed supplies -which was the main argument for putting fluoride in water.
It comes as chiefs at South Central Strategic Health Authority say they still do not know how much it is going to cost to build the infrastructure needed to add the chemical to tap water.
Campaigners say the revelations show all of the major arguments for fluorida-tion have been shown to be fundamentally flawed, and the scheme should be put back on hold immediately, or scrapped completely.
Stephen Peckham, chairman of Hampshire Against Fluoridation, said: "It has to be technically and economically feasible - they are the first two criteria. All of the underpinning of their arguments has been stripped away, even if they worked in the first place.
A senior customer relations adviser said in a letter responding to a query about dosing stations that the actual locations have "yet to be finalised".
She said: "Depending upon the location of this dosing system it is most likely that not all the areas identified in the schemes 1 and 7 of the feasibility study will actually receive a fluoridated supply."
"The SHA board decided that the health benefits outweigh all arguments against water fluoridation for the population described in the consultation and remains confident with this decision.

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