FLUORIDATION JUSTIFICATION GOES DOWN THE PLUG HOLE - GIDLEY

12.00.00am GMT Wed 28th Oct 2009

Commenting today on the publication of new figures which reveal that the number of five year olds in Southampton with dental decay has fallen by over 25% since 2005, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Minister and City MP, Sandra Gidley, said:

"The high decay rate for five year olds in 2003 and 2005 was the key reason that the Health Authority introduced water fluoridation.

"But these figures suggest that rates of dental decay in Southampton are decreasing in line with other parts of the country - and rates are now lower than they were at the start of the decade.

"I urge the South Central Health Authority to reverse their decision in the light of these figures. The people of Southampton would welcome such a move and it would do a lot to restore faith in the board. After all, their justification for fluoridation has just gone down the plug hole."

ENDS