Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Mary O'Connor.

None.

Were agreed as an accurate record.

All the items were considered in Part 1.

The Chairman welcomed the witnesses to the meeting.  It was noted that the purpose of the meeting was to provide the Committee with an overview of child oral health in Hillingdon and to assess what action was currently being undertaken with a view to presenting a report to Cabinet.

Shikha Sharma, Consultant in Public Health, highlighted a number of salient points from the background paper which had been provided. The following points were noted:

• Tooth decay was caused by consuming too many sugary foods and drinks too often and poor oral hygiene.
• Unless this lifestyle issue was addressed, there was a much higher risk of further tooth decay in permanent adult teeth and throughout later life.
• Tooth decay can be prevented by eating a healthy balanced diet which limited the amount of foods and drinks high in sugar, and also by brushing teeth for two minutes twice a day, once before bed, using fluoride toothpaste.
• Dental caries remains the main cause of hospital admissions for children aged under 18 years.
• Recently published results of the Child Oral Health Survey for 3 year olds show that dental health of children was particularly poor in Hillingdon with the highest rate of early childhood caries amongst London boroughs.
• Local authorities were statutorily required to improve health of their population, which included improving oral health.
• The transition of Public Health to the local authority in 2013, had provided new opportunities for health visitors and the Community Dental Health team to work closely with the Children's Centres for better targeting of families at higher risk.

NHS England (NHSE), Public Health England (PHE) and the Local Authority had joint responsibility for improving oral health. Since 1 April 2013, NHSE had had the responsibility for commissioning all NHS dental services - both primary and secondary care. PHE provided dental public health and health improvement support for local authorities and NHS England, including collaborative commissioning of oral health improvement programmes. In terms of the Council's role, this included:

1.    Joint statutory responsibility with Clinical Commissioning Groups for Joint Strategic Needs Assessments.

2.    Participation in oral health surveys to assess and monitor oral health needs.

3.    Responsibility for reducing health inequalities.

4.    Planning, commissioning and evaluating oral health improvement programmes.

5.    Leading scrutiny of delivery of NHS dental services to local populations.

6.    The power to make proposals regarding water fluoridation schemes, a duty to conduct public consultations in relation to such proposals and powers to make decisions about such proposals.

7.    Lead responsibility for the Healthy Child Programme 5-19 years (and HCP 0-5 years from 2015), the national child measurement programme and the care of vulnerable children and families (ie. looked after children, the troubled families programme).

8.    Safeguarding children.

9.    Commissioning local healthy schools, school food and healthier lifestyle programmes.

Following consideration of the overview report, the two external witnesses were invited to address the Committee.

Claire Robertson, Consultant in Public Health, (Public Health England)

explained that good oral health was important for a number  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

The Committee considered the latest version of the Forward Plan.

Resolved –

1. That the report be noted.

Reference was made to the work programme and timetable of meetings.

Resolved

1. The Committee noted the Work Programme 2013/14.