Children: Oral Health

Lord Colwyn Excerpts

Monday 4th December 2017 Lords Chamber

[Lord O'Shaughnessy]

My noble friend is quite right that fluoridation is effective. The 2012 Act allows local areas to choose to introduce it—with local legitimacy, which is important because this issue still stirs passions. We encourage any local area considering this—I believe that Greater Manchester is one—to look at the study my noble friend mentioned in order to see its effectiveness.

[Lord Colwyn (Con)]

My Lords, I am delighted that my noble friend mentioned the dental contract because the current target-driven contract was introduced in 2006. The Government committed to reforming it in their 2010 manifesto, but progress has been very slow. The latest reports speak of a national rollout no earlier than 2021. We urgently need a new contract that rewards prevention. Does my noble friend not agree that patients and dentists should not have to wait so long?

[Lord O'Shaughnessy]

Yes, I agree with my noble friend. Preventive care is important. Pilot schemes have been going on in 75 practices to look at incentivising preventive care and population care. I understand that an evaluation report of that first full year of prototyping is due to be published in the new year.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord O'Shaughnessy]

I am certainly happy to look again at that issue because we know the benefits of fluoridation. That is one reason why more children are having fluoride varnishes, for example.

[Lord Colwyn]

My Lords, I forgot to declare my interest, so I apologise.