WATER supplies in Herefordshire could be flouridated to improve the county's dental health.
Health chief Dr Frances Howie told the county's primary care trust yesterday that local five-year-olds had more decayed, missing or filled teeth than the average for the country and region.
The figures are 1.78 in Herefordshire, compared with 1.02 in the West Midlands and 1.51 in England and Wales.
Now the PCT has asked the Strategic Health Authority to look at the possibility of fluoridating of the county's water supply. "There is clear evidence that this would bring about a significant improvement in the county's dental health," said Dr Howie.
The results of the feasibility study should be out by the end of the year and the SHA will then decide whether or not to continue to explore the possibility.
Dr Howie said there is a very clear statutory process for considering fluoridation, including full public consultation.
She said the PCT has continued to invest in dental care, with seven dental access centres, plus a mobile unit, where children all have priority.
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