Agenda item

The Lead Member for Health & Social Care and the Service Lead Public Health introduced a report on the current position on oral health in Slough.

Oral health was an important factor in people’s general health and was closely linked to deprivation.  There was a particular concern about the oral health of children locally.  Slough had more children with teeth affected by decay, on average, than in any other local authority in the South East and one of the highest in England. The most recent data from 2016/2017 highlighted that 41.5% of children had one or more decayed, missing or filled teeth, compared to 23.3% in England and 16.4% in the South East.  The impacts included missed school days and the need for urgent health care and oral surgery.

The Panel discussed the work being undertaken in Slough to address the problems.  The Healthy Smiles Campaign had been launched earlier in 2018 which included training for staff who supported children in areas such as brushing, diet and sugar intake.  Slough was working with Public Health England and some dental practices on the Starting Well pilot initiative which was an outreach programme targeting 6-8 primary schools in the areas of highest need to promote brushing to children and working with families.  The results of the work undertaken would be evaluated to inform future activity.

Members were concerned about the high levels of tooth decay in Slough and whilst the initiatives described were welcomed it was noted that the limited funding meant they were not available to children across Slough.  The Lead Member recognised the serious problems highlighted by Members and reiterated the strong action being taken to improve oral health and the wider factors of poor diet and low levels of exercise.  In relation to the specific concerns expressed about the scale of the Starting Well initiative, the Lead Member stated that it was a pilot scheme focused on wards with the highest levels of deprivation and the ambition was to expand the scheme in future funding rounds.  A question was asked about the sustainability of the initiative and it was responded that the Council was seeking to involve local businesses where appropriate.  The Panel supported the pilot and it was agreed that an update would be provided to the Panel in January 2019.

Access to NHS dentists had previously been considered to be a problem in Slough and the Panel requested further information on the current number of dentists in Slough and any data available on the cost of tooth extractions in Slough.

Resolved –

(a)  That the actions being taken to deliver improved oral health, particularly in children in Slough be noted.

(b)  That the future extension of the Starting Well project be supported.

(c)  That the Panel receive an update report at the meeting in January 2019 on the pilot, roll out and funding.

(Colin Pill left the meeting)