Request
Fluoridation of area 'south and east of Sheffield'
I refer to an excerpt of an FoI to Yorkshire and Humber SHA in February 2009, the answer to which is now in the public domain.
'In addition, approximately 56,000 people in the south of Sheffield receive water with a level of 0.4ppm fluoride from Severn Trent Water. This is because of the complexity of the water supply system which results in fluoridated water being mixed with water from non-fluoridated waterworks'.
On 4th August 2009 I wrote to Yorkshire and the Humber NHS. They replied on 18th August :
“The area of Sheffield in question was once in Derbyshire. As such, the water supply in this area is different to other areas in Sheffield and is therefore part of the Derbyshire fluoridation programme which has been in existence for over 30 years.”
I was advised to write to you if I wished to make further enquiries. Would you therefore answer the following questions:
1. Please provide the first part of the postcodes (e.g. S80) of the districts in the area to the east and south of Sheffield which receive artificially fluoridated water from Severn Trent and which were once in Derbyshire, some of which are now administered by Sheffield (Mosborough) and some of which are now in Nottinghamshire. In other words where exactly are these 56,000 homes?
2. The earlier reply from Yorkshire and the Humber SHA states that the areas to the south and east of Sheffield are fluoridated because of technical water supply complexity but the later reply states that these areas are part of a pre-1985 fluoridation programme. In your view, what is the true state of affairs?
3. Worksop is fluoridated – S80, Staveley is fluoridated – S43, Mosborough is fluoridated – S20. Were these three towns included in the original water fluoridation programme which pre-dates 1985?
4. Do any of the postcodes which currently receive fluoride receive natural fluoride ?
5. Is there any written correspondence between you and Severn Trent relating to this artificial fluoride in the water supply 'south of Sheffield' ? If so, I would appreciate sight of the correspondence. It will be fine to scan it and send it as an attachment to an email.
Our Response
I refer to your email requesting information in respect of water fluoridation. After considering the substance of your request it has been assessed as falling within the ambit of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
I can confirm that NHS East Midlands does not hold the majority of information you have requested. We are able to provide a small amount of information relating to your third question below.
I would like to take this opportunity to advise you that following your request for information earlier this year, discussions have been held with NHS Yorkshire and the Humber and Severn Trent Water about the water supply to the area in which you are interested. This part of Sheffield was previously part of Derbyshire and NHS Yorkshire and the Humber has advised me that they hold no records of the Derbyshire fluoridation schemes. NHS Yorkshire and the Humber has also advised me that the water supply is not a part of that affected by the Derbyshire fluoridation scheme but a separate supply in which the natural level of fluoride is approximately 4 parts per million. Accordingly your questions relating to "artificial fluoride" do not apply to this water supply as none of the population of Sheffield receive "artificial fluoride".
However, I will address each of your points in turn:-
1. Please provide the first part of the postcodes (e.g. S80) of the districts in the area to the east and south of Sheffield which receive artificially fluoridated water from Severn Trent and which were once in Derbyshire, some of which are now administered by Sheffield (Mosborough) and some of which are now in Nottinghamshire. In other words where exactly are these 56,000 homes?
It is our understanding that part of the area your query relates to was transferred from Derbyshire to Sheffield in 1967. NHS East Midlands does not hold any information relating to the supply of water to postcodes for that area. Information held by NHS East Midlands on areas that receive fluoridated water is categorised by water supply zones and these do not equate directly to post codes. As NHS East Midlands does not have information on the precise area transferred, we are not able to map this directly to current post code districts.
2. The earlier reply from Yorkshire and the Humber SHA states that the areas to the south and east of Sheffield are fluoridated because of technical water supply complexity but the later reply states that these areas are part of a pre-1985 fluoridation programme. In your view, what is the true state of affairs?
NHS East Midlands is not aware of any information that would contradict information previously provided by NHS Yorkshire and the Humber.
3. Worksop is fluoridated – S80, Staveley is fluoridated – S43, Mosborough is fluoridated – S20. Were these three towns included in the original water fluoridation programme which pre-dates 1985?
Our records show that Staveley and approx 80 % of Worksop receive fluoridated water from the same treatment works and that this scheme is part of the original programme that predates 1985. Mosborough is not within the East Midlands and NHS East Midlands does not hold any data for this town.
4. Do any of the postcodes which currently receive fluoride receive natural fluoride ?
NHS East Midlands does not hold this information. The water supply zones that covers Staveley and 80% of Worksop come from a source that has a background level of fluoride of 0.06 parts per million. It is not possible to relate this accurately to post codes.
5. Is there any written correspondence between you and Severn Trent relating to this artificial fluoride in the water supply ‘south of Sheffield’? If so, I would appreciate sight of the correspondence. It will be fine to scan it and send it as an attachment to an email.
NHS East Midlands does not hold any of this information.
I hope that this information is of use to you. If you are dissatisfied with the way in which we have dealt with your request you can ask us to review our decision by writing to:-
Mr Kevin Orford
Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance
NHS East Midlands
Octavia House
Interchange Business Park
Bostock's Lane
Sandiacre
Nottingham
NG10 5QG
If at the conclusion of any review you remain dissatisfied you may complain to the Information Commissioner who can be contacted at:-
The Office of the Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
