UK - North West PCTs and NHSNW Water Fluoridation Update

6. Water Fluoridation Update
6.1 North West PCTs and NHSNW undertook a detailed assessment of the feasibility
and affordability of a water fluoridation scheme in the North West during 2008-2009.
The capital costs of a region-wide fluoridation scheme were estimated to be about
£200 million spent over a period of five or six years, with annual operating costs of
£5.78 million.
6.2 A briefing as part of the Chief Executive’s Report was given to the board in
September 2009. This was prompted by a judicial review of the decision by NHS
South Central to implement a new fluoridation scheme in Southampton and parts of
Hampshire. A decision was made not to undertake any further work on water
fluoridation schemes in the North West until the outcome of the judicial review were
known. In February 2011, the judicial review upheld the decision made by NHS
South Central, and the end of the legal process was confirmed in July 2011, hence
the need for NHS North West to clarify its position on this issue.
6.3 The Health and Social Care Bill sets out the intention that the responsibility for
initiating new schemes will move to local authorities. There are additional issues
which would act as significant barriers to NHS North West undertaking a consultation
exercise for a new scheme.
· It is unlikely that the current timescales for NHS service reorganization will permit
NHSNW to complete a consultation exercise.
· The costs of a consultation would be considerable and would fall to NHSNW.
· In transition it is unlikely that NHSNW would have the workforce capacity and
capability to support a high quality, authoritative consultation exercise.
· The capital costs of a large scheme in the North West are considerable and
would need to be agreed with the Department of Health.
· NHSNW has commissioned some work to identify costs of necessary
renewal\refurbishing the fluoride dosing plant of the current Cumbria schemes.
6.4 Recommendations
· NHS North West does not actively pursue a consultation on a new fluoridation
scheme in the North West prior to its abolition.
· All documentation on the feasibility assessment of a new scheme is handed over
formally to successor body\bodies.
· NHS North West should aim to negotiate an agreement with United Utilities for
renewal\refurbishing of the Cumbria plant which offers best value for money.