Request
1. Does your SHA
have areas that are receive fluoridated tap water?
2. If not, is (or
has the SHA in the past 3 years) the SHA considering fluoridisation
of tap water. If the answer is yes, please provide:
a. Agenda and
minutes of all meetings where this has been discussed
b. Copies of all
correspondance relating to this consideration
c. Copies of all
reports relating to this consideration
3. Has the SHA
been offered financial incentives to fluoridate water. If so please
provide details of the value of the incentive and from which
organisation the incentive was offered.
This information
should be supplied by email, unless the total size is greater than
10MB, in which case a CD-ROM is preferable. If you are not able to
provide the information in this format then please explain why not,
when you provide the information in another format.
If you decide to
withhold any of the information requested, please explain clearly
why you have done so in your response, by reference to the
legislation. If your decision to withhold is based upon an
evaluation of the public interest then please clearly explain which
public interests you have considered and why you have decided that
the public interest in maintaining the exception(s) outweighs the
public interest in releasing the information.
If you are
proposing to make a charge for providing the information requested
then please provide full details in advance together with an
explanation of any proposed charge.
The email address
for your SHA was found on
www.nhs.uk
- if this is not the correct email for FOI
requests within your organisation please forward as appropriate and
inform me of the correct email address.
We look forward
to hearing from you promptly, as required by the legislation, and
in any case within 20 working days. We would be grateful if you
could acknowledge safe receipt of this request by email.
*********************************************************************
Our Response
I refer to your
email of 18 January asking for information in respect of
fluoridated water.
I can confirm in
accordance with S.1(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, that
we do hold some of the information that you have
requested.
At present there
are several longstanding water fluoridation schemes in operation in
the East Midlands. These are managed by Severn Trent water and
Anglian Water and serve parts of Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and
Nottinghamshire. All of the schemes have been in operation for at
least 20 years.
NHS East Midlands
is not currently considering either to extend fluoridation schemes
or to establish new schemes.
The SHA has a
duty under NHS guidance to conduct a consultation on fluoridation
schemes if requested by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and to
determine, following consultation, whether a scheme should be
introduced.
The PCTs in the
East Midlands are presently examining whether the scientific
evidence would support new schemes, whether such schemes are
feasible and whether a cost benefit analysis would support such
schemes. This work is at an early stage. When it is complete, one
or more PCTs in the East Midlands may request a
consultation.
The view of the
SHA concerning fluoridation is neutral. We will discharge our duty
as required and will consult if requested.
This issue has
been discussed at our public board meetings under the corporate
report section and I have attached a pdf copy for your
information.
(NB - the
relevant document can be found via the link below)
http://www.eastmidlands.nhs.uk/sys_upl/templates/AssetBrowser/AssetBrowser_disp.asp?ItemID=2364&basketPage=&basketItem=&CategoryID=193&pgid=5881&tid=165&page=1
Also attached are
pdf copies of the East Midlands Directors of Public Health
meetings. You will note that we have redacted some sections
of these minutes that do not refer to water fluoridation and are
therefore not considered relevant to your request.
(NB - please contact
NHS East Midlands separately for sight of these
documents)
You will also
note that I have redacted the names of some of the more junior
members of staff under section 40 of the Freedom of Information
Act. This is an absolute exemption relating to Personal
Information. I would point out that the redaction of these
names does not have any bearing on the information contained within
the documents. The purpose of section 40 of the Act is
to protect personally identifiable information and the privacy of
living persons.
I hope that this
information is of use to you. However, if you are unhappy
about the way we have addressed your request you can complain in
writing to:-
Mr Kevin
Orford
Deputy Chief
Executive and Director of Finance
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 may be contacted at
The Office of the
Information Commissioner
Wycliffe
House
Water
Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
