Training dental nurses with additional skills in oral health education and application of fluoride varnish: Activity impact and challenges

摘要

The NHS White Paper, Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS (DH, 2010a) restated the importance of improving the oral health of school children. It proposed the introduction of a new dental contract that will focus on three elements; improving quality, capitation and registration. More recently the functions to improve oral health of local populations that were bestowed on Primary Care Trusts since 2006 have now transferred to local authorities (DH, 2012). This paper will focus on data gathered within Bradford and Airedale (Yorkshire and Humber region, England), a health district that has an estimated population of 506,800 people. It is one of the few metropolitan districts that are experiencing population growth. The district has a rich mix of ethnic groups and cultures, with 74% of the population classified as white, 21% Asian, the remaining 5% being mixed race, black and other ethnic groups. Almost one-third (31%) of Bradford lower super output areas fall within the 10% most deprived in England and Wales.