Advocacy for county-wide fluoridation of water supply

Health officials are advocating for the inclusion of fluoride in the entire water supply of Worcestershire, aiming to implement a public health strategy designed to reduce the incidence of tooth decay.

The British Fluoridation Society reports that initiatives to increase fluoride levels to the recommended standards in the county were implemented from 1970 to 1991; however, some regions still lack adequate fluoride.

Lisa McNally, the director of public health for Worcestershire, stated that a request had been submitted to the government; however, priority is currently being given to the north east region of England.

The BBC has reached out to the Department of Health to request a statement.

During Wednesday's session of the Worcestershire County Council's health overview and scrutiny committee, it was reported that locations such as Worcester, Kidderminster, Stourport, and the Malvern Hills district still lack fluoride in their water supply.

Dr. McNally stated, "There is strong evidence supporting the benefits of fluoridation, particularly regarding its positive impact on the dental health of young individuals. This is especially true for those in socially and economically disadvantaged communities, who often experience worse dental health outcomes."

She mentioned that the regional director of public health had submitted a request for Worcestershire to be part of the upcoming phase of fluoridation.

"They chose to focus on the north east of England," she remarked, "However, we still persist in our requests."

Councillor Richard Udall remarked, "I believe it is one of the key strategies we can employ to prevent dental issues."

Charmaine Hawker, who serves as the director of delegated commissioning at the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board, remarked: "Certain areas in Worcestershire have access to it, while others do not."

"Herefordshire lacks any form of fluoridation, resulting in a varied situation throughout our area."

Councillor Richard Morris stated that there is a significant "crisis" concerning young children under the age of five entering school with inadequate dental health.

Dr. McNally mentioned that there is a significant amount of effective preventive measures being implemented, such as supervised tooth brushing for children who are four years old and younger.