PHE launches Children’s Oral Health Improvement Programme Board

Public Health England (PHE) has announced the launch of the Children’s Oral Health Improvement Programme Board (COHIPB) which aims to ensure every child grows up free from tooth decay as part of having the best start in life.

The COHIPB will aim to bring together stakeholder organisations that all have key leadership roles for children and young people, including NHS England, the LGA, the British Dental Association, and the Institute of Health Visiting.

The Board will be chaired and led by Dr Jenny Godson who leads on oral health improvement at Public Health England (PHE).

The news come as official statistics show 24.7 per cent of five year olds have tooth decay, and oral health accounts for a huge cost to health services. The NHS in England spends £3.4 billion per year on primary and secondary dental care (2014) (with an estimated additional £2.3 billion on private dental care).

Tooth decay was also found to be the most common reason for hospital admission in children aged five to nine in 2014/15 with over 26,000 children admissions for an almost entirely preventable disease.

The Board’s objectives are to ensure: child oral health is on everyone’s agenda; the early years and dental workforce have access to evidence based oral health improvement training; oral health data and information is used to the best effect by all key stakeholders; all stakeholders use the best evidence for oral health improvement; and child oral health improvement information is communicated effectively.

Dr Sandra White, national lead for Dental Public Health, PHE, said: “There is an opportunity to change the future for our children and a welcome appetite from a number of organisations who want to work together to improve oral health in children. Improving oral health is everyone’s business.”