Children in the most vulnerable areas of mid and south Essex have received better dental and oral health care, a new report has revealed.

The Health Inequalities Annual Report 2024/25 from NHS Mid and South Essex highlights positive changes made by the local NHS and other partner organisations to make healthcare fairer and more accessible to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. The report has revealed a reduction in the proportion of young children from more at-risk areas needing teeth removed.

Often, children living in the most vulnerable areas have more problems with tooth decay, which also affects their overall health and wellbeing. The report highlights local initiatives that are teaching children and families how to care for their teeth, which are part of the Mid and South Essex Bright Smiles Child Oral Health Improvement Programme. The programme team has seen more than 6,300 people, given out over 18,000 toothbrushing packs and trained 400 workers, volunteers and adult students over the last year.

Primary school children across mid and south Essex have also received support to keep their teeth healthy through a new school programme. Local dentists have been visiting schools to give dental checks, teach good oral health habits and help children and their families receive NHS dental care.

The report has also revealed that more people with a learning disability or serious mental health problem are getting their yearly health checks. The number of patients receiving their health check has gone up to 77.8 per cent and 67.9 per cent, respectively, exceeding the national goals of 75 per cent and 60 per cent.

According to the NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board, improving communication and local community links has been essential. Patient leaflets and posters have been made with people who use the service to ensure their thoughts and experiences are included.

Sophia Morris, a dentist and system clinical lead for health inequalities at NHS Mid and South Essex, said, “Our new report shows we’re making good progress to make health care fairer for everyone in mid and south Essex. We’ve been working with partners, communities and our staff to address differences in how people access health services and provide targeted support in areas where it’s needed most. We want to make sure everyone can get the care they need, when they need it.

“These improvements have helped our residents and communities, but there is still more we can do. We want to offer more support to people under 40 years old to better manage conditions such as diabetes and encourage more adults to have cancer checks to help protect their health.”

For more information visit www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk/publications/health-inequalities-annual-report-2024-25/

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