Fluoridation

On 26 February 2009, the Board of South Central Strategic Health Authority agreed the request from NHS Southampton City to instruct Southern Water to adjust the level of fluoride in the water supply in Southampton and parts of south west Hampshire as a public health measure.  This followed a public consultation and independent telephone poll towards the end of 2008 on a proposal to increase the level of fluoride in the local water supply.  The areas that will be affected by this proposal are central Southampton, including the dock area and the cruise terminal, Lordshill, Freemantle, Polygon, Totton, parts of Eastleigh, Weston, Shirley, Portswood, St Denys, Netley, Aldermoor, Millbrook, Bassett and Woolston. Click here to see a map of the proposed water fluoridation scheme.

The consultation took place following a request in 2005 from NHS Southampton City to a previous strategic health authority to explore the feasibility and cost effectiveness of water fluoridation to help improve dental health in a city which has a worse rate of tooth decay than the national average.

Members of the SHA Board, comprising Executive and Non-executive Directors, voted unanimously in favour of the proposal to increase the level of fluoride in the local water supply from 0.08 parts per million to one part per million – the optimal level for tackling tooth decay.

To help the SHA make an informed decision on the issue, Board members received an independent report providing an analysis of over 10,200 responses received during the consultation, along with the results of an independent phone poll of over 2,000 people.   The Board also received presentations from representatives of NHS Southampton City and Hampshire Against Fluoridation – the local anti-fluoridation campaign group.

The SHA Board was satisfied that water fluoridation at one part per million is a safe and effective way to tackle tooth decay in Southampton, and that the health benefits outweighed all other arguments against water fluoridation.

In 9 June 2009, judicial review proceedings were issued against the SHA in relation to its decision making process with regards to the consultation and its interpretation of government policy. The matter eventually went before the courts on 19 and 20 January 2011.

Following the judicial review hearing, it was announced on 11 February 2011 that Mr Justice Holman upheld the way in which the decision was made by the SHA to fluoridate the water in Southampton and parts of south west Hampshire.  The claimant continued to pursue her case and a hearing to seek permission to appeal the judge’s decision was held on 16 June 2011.  The judge ruled in favour of the SHA and leave to appeal was refused, thus concluding the legal process.

Next steps

The process of adding fluoride to the water in Southampton and parts of south west Hampshire is now continuing as planned, with a number of technical steps required before this happens.  We are aiming that this will be completed in 2013.