Agenda item

The meeting received a report presenting the Oral Health Improvement Action Plan, outlining local ambitions to improve oral health, and presenting information about the contribution that water fluoridation could make towards these objectives.

Whilst the meeting noted the benefits of water fluoridation, concerns were expressed that this should not detract from the overall ambition of the action plan.  The meeting noted in particular the benefits of applying fluoride varnish to children’s teeth as an alternative, and the need to encourage parents to request this from their dentists.  The meeting noted that the NHS dentistry contract did not particularly incentivise dentists to offer fluoride varnish and NHS England was examining how this might be changed in the current contract review.

In relation to water fluoridation, the meeting noted the complicated process in achieving this, not least because it was difficult to isolate Barnsley’s water supply from surrounding areas.  It was therefore important that this not be progressed unless the position of neighbouring local authorities was clear.

RESOLVED:-

(i)        that the Oral Health Improvement Plan, set out in the appendix to the report now submitted, be agreed and supported;

(ii)       that efforts to incentivise dentists to offer fluoride varnish as part of the NHS dentistry contract review be welcomed; and

(iii)      that the Director of Public Health seek to establish the position of neighbouring local authorities in relation to water fluoridation before taking further action to progress this matter.