Agenda item

Dr Jasmine Murphy, Consultant in Public Health will submit a report on improving oral health in the City.  The report outlines the oral health needs of children in the City, NHS reforms and dentistry and the development of the Oral health Promotion Strategy for pre-school children.           Appendix F

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The following documents are also attached for information:-

Draft Oral Health Strategy                                                              Appendix G

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Draft Action Plan                                                                             Appendix H

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Copy of the presentation to be given on the report                   Appendix I

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The report makes reference to the Dental health Survey Results of 5 year olds 2011/12 and the Draft Terms of Reference for the Oral Health Promotion Partnership Board.  It was considered that these documents did not need to be circulated in with the agenda.  If Members wish to see a copy these documents they can be requested from Democratic Services.

Dr Jasmine Murphy, Consultant in Public Health, submitted a report on improving oral health in the City.  The report outlined the oral health needs of children in the City, NHS reforms and dentistry and the development of the Oral Health Promotion Strategy for pre-school children.  The Draft Oral Health Strategy and the Draft Action Plan were also submitted for information.

Dr Murphy also gave a presentation on the report and a copy of the presentation had previously been circulated with the agenda for the meeting.

During the presentation and consideration of the report Members noted:-

a)    The level of 5 years olds experiencing tooth decay was twice the national average due mainly to unhealthy diets of food and drink that that were high in sugar content.

b)    City residents could access NHS dental practices anywhere they chose due to the open access nature of NHS dentistry.

c)    The lowest rates of people aged 0-9 years old accessing NHS dental services were in the Westcotes and Castle wards.  Members noted that these wards had the highest concentration of dental practices.  It was also noted that these wards had the highest levels of transient and student populations.

d)    The draft strategy was presented to the Oral Health Promotion Partnership Board in September which was being led by the Council and included representatives from NHS England, Local Dental Network, CCG, Public Health England, Health Education England and Children’s Services.

e)    The Board was aiming to finalise and endorse the Strategy to the next meeting in December in order for mobilisation to commence in the New Year.  

f)     The local dental profession were engaged in support and keen to work with the Council on improving oral health for children in the City.

g)    A pilot initiative had commenced with the distribution of toothbrushes, toothpastes and leaflets to children in the City.  3,000 packs would be distributed by Health Visitors over a six month period during the universal 4 months developmental checks – this would commence in the New Year. .  4,300 packs had also started to be distributed to every child in reception classes in City Council maintained schools, with a further 4,000 packs distributed to every child in year 3 in City Council maintained schools – this distribution should be completed before Christmas 2013.

h)   The dental health results for 5 year old children in the City were based upon a sample survey and it would preferable, if funding was available to undertake a census survey of every 5 year old child in order to break the figures down into ethnicity, gender and wards which would allow a more focused approach to be taken.

i)     Birmingham and Coventry had fluoridated public water supplies and still had above national average dental decay rates, albeit at a much lower rate than the rate for Leicester.

j)      A social marketing exercise was being considered for the future in order to target appropriate oral health promotion messages to specific groups in the City. 

k)    It was also intended to include a reference to donating toothbrushes, toothpastes and leaflets to food bank donations.

Members also made a number of comments upon the draft strategy including the following:-

a)    Whilst noting that there were limited supplies of the toothbrush/paste packs and that not all children would receive them, it was nevertheless important to get the message of improving oral health to all parents;

b)    Walsall had undertaken a successful initiative to increase the take up of vegetables and fruit in schools through innovative and exciting characters and this could be used a model of good practice;

c)    The percentage of primary school age children from BME origins was greater than the population at large and therefore the messages should be relevant to both children and parents;

RESOLVED:-

1)    That the report and draft strategy be received and that members commented be incorporated into the strategy; and

2)      That the Health and Wellbeing Board be asked to revisit the issue of whether local water supplies should be fluoridated as a measure to improve oral health and reduce oral health inequalities.