| Sedgefield Primary Care Trust has recently launched an initiative to help tackle the problem of poor oral health in children of primary school age.
A Dental Health Survey of five-year olds carried out in 2000 revealed that 56% of the study population in the Sedgefield area had experienced dental disease by the time they had reached the age of five.
Milk has been identified as a vehicle of being able to offer fluoride to help tackle these inequalities in oral health.
Seven schools in the Sedgefield area have been targeted by the PCT where more than two thirds of the children had experience of dental disease. These schools have been given the opportunity to take part in the initiative, of which six are currently taking part.
Parents are being offered the choice of their children been given fluoridated milk with the aim of trying to improve their children’s oral health. Fluoridated milk is ordinary whole milk with 0.5mg of fluoride added to a189ml carton, which is the amount needed to strengthen teeth against decay.
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Sedgefield PCT has offered to fund the project for the next five years, which will allow the milk to be offered FREE of charge to those children who opt into the scheme in the hope that by 2010 they will see a reduction in dental decay.
We currently have 621 children drinking fluoridated milk, which is a 70% uptake. This is part of an international programme involving seven countries and within the UK there are 14 other districts participating and approximately 38,000 children drinking fluoridated milk.
Alyson Learmonth, Director of Public Health for Sedgefield PCT, said: “It is one of the key recommendations in the PCT’s Oral Health Strategy that we offer the choice of fluoridated milk to local children with the aim of improving their oral health.
“The PCT believe that through this project, children in the Sedgefield areas will have the benefit of fluoride to tackle inequalities in oral health but will also receive all the nutritional benefits from drinking milk.”
Sedgefield PCT Celebrates Three Star Rating
Nigel Porter, Chief Executive of Sedgefield Primary Care Trust (PCT) has welcomed the three star rating awarded today to the PCT by the Healthcare Commission.
Nigel Porter said: “I am delighted that the PCT has received a three star rating this year. Over the past three years we have continued to make progress and improve on the one star rating received in 2003. Today’s announcement recognises the hard work and determination of all our staff to reduce waiting times and achieve the challenging Government targets, and shows that as an organisation we are performing very well overall.
“Our three star rating would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of all our staff, particularly front line staff such as GPs, nurses, dentists and pharmacists, and our partners - the local Acute Trust, Priority Services Trust, Social Care and Health and Ambulance Service.
“I would like to thank and congratulate all our staff and partners for working with us during the past three years to improve local health services, cut waiting times and provide a better experience for all our patients.
“We will continue to work during 2005/06 to identify areas for improvement, including those identified by local people and staff, so that we can make the Sedgefield area a healthier place to live, work and bring up a family.” |
