London boroughs told to “follow in Greenwich and Lewisham’s footsteps” when it comes to dental health
Politicians at City Hall have praised Greenwich and Lewisham for tackling sugar consumption, and have called on other London boroughs to follow their lead. The comments were made in a motion from Assembly Members, which calls on the Mayor to include oral health improvement measures in the London Health Inequalities Strategy.
It also asks him to urge the government to take action to reduce sugar consumption in children across the country, something which local Assembly Member Len Duvall supports.
Earlier this year Greenwich and Lewisham signed up to Sugar Smart, a joint campaign with the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation and the food charity Sustain to tackle high sugar consumption. The boroughs are working with organisations including local businesses, schools, and children’s centres to promote low sugar options and limit less healthy choices.
The motion was brought because more than half of London children – nearly one million children in total – have not been seen by an NHS dentist in the past year.
Over 10,000 children in London are admitted to hospital every year to have multiple decayed teeth removed under a general anaesthetic.
Len Duvall AM, London Assembly Member for Greenwich and Lewisham, who voted for the motion, said:
I am delighted that the work of Greenwich and Lewisham has been recognised at City Hall. Our boroughs were the first in London to sign up to Sugar Smart, and take important steps to reduce sugar consumption, particularly amongst children.
The motion also recognised that nearly a million children in London haven’t been to the dentist in the past year. The NHS appointments are there and they are free, and I would encourage anyone reading this to ensure children are getting their teeth checked on a regular basis.
It is also time for the government to take decisive legislative action to reduce sugar consumption for children across the country.
Notes to editors
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The full text of the Motion is:
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“This Assembly notes with alarm that despite dental decay being almost completely preventable, more than 10,000 children in London are admitted to hospital every year to have multiple decayed teeth removed under a general anaesthetic. This Assembly is concerned about massive equalities in oral health outcomes across the capital, with just 16% of 5-year-olds suffering from decay in Bromley, while 39% of their peers are affected in Ealing.