Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

The minutes of the Health Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 11 September 2023 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

The Scrutiny Panel will receive:

·        an overview of Public Health’s responsibilities in respect of oral health;

·        statistical data and information in respect of oral health in Middlesbrough and the impact of Covid-19; and

·        details of any future developments and innovative practice that plan to improve the oral health of Middlesbrough’s population.

The Director of Public Health was in attendance to present:

·        an overview of Public Health’s responsibilities in respect of oral health;

·        statistical data and information in respect of oral health in Middlesbrough and the impact of Covid-19; and

·        details of any future developments and innovative practice that plan to improve the oral health of Middlesbrough’s population.

The Director of Public Health explained that oral health was an important public health concern and could have a significant impact on society and individuals.

The scrutiny panel was advised that the extraction of decayed teeth had become the most common reason for the hospital admission of under-18-year-olds in England.

Members heard that poor oral health could affect children’s and young people’s ability to sleep, eat, speak, play and socialise with other children. Other impacts included pain, infections, poor diet, and impaired nutrition and growth. It was commented that poor oral health also had wider impacts for families, for instance - if a child missed school or a parent needed to take time off work to take their child to receive dental treatment.

It was highlighted that there was a significant link between deprivation and poorer oral health. Poor oral health increased the risk of many oral health related illnesses (dental decay, tooth loss, oral cancer) and impacted on a person’s quality of life.

It was commented that poor oral health may be indicative of dental neglect and wider safeguarding issues. Members heard that dental neglect was defined as “the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic oral health needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of a child’s oral or general health or development”. It was explained that dental teams were able to contribute to a multi-agency approach to safeguard children.

The scrutiny panel was informed that extractions under general anaesthetic were not only potentially avoidable for most children, but also costly. It was commented that the cost of extracting multiple teeth for children in hospitals between 2011-2012 cost the NHS £673 per child, which had equated to nearly £23 million that year. Members heard that approximately 20 years ago, there had been an initiative to reduce the number of extractions performed under general anaesthetic in hospitals and facilitate extractions in dental practices under local anaesthetic. It was commented that the current costs of extractions in hospital settings would be lower than that of 2011/12, due to the shift in how extractions were now performed.

Members were informed that across the North East and North Cumbria there had been no significant improvements in oral health for 5-year-old children. It was commented that Middlesbrough had significantly more dental decay than the England average. Furthermore, Middlesbrough had the highest rate of dental decay in 5-year-olds across North East and North Cumbria, in terms of lower-tier local authorities in the area. The rates were socially patterned and typically the poorer and more deprived areas experienced higher rates of dental decay. However, it was explained that although Hartlepool had a similar deprivation profile to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23/16

The Chair will present a verbal update on the matters that were considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 20 September 2023.

The Chair explained that at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, which was held on 26 July 2023, the Board had considered:

·        an update from the Mayor;

·        information on Middlesbrough’s Boundary Review;

·        the Overview and Scrutiny Board’s work programme for 2023/24;

·        the Scrutiny Panels’ work programmes for 2023/24;

·        the Executive forward work programme; and

·        updates from the scrutiny chairs.

NOTED