Annual reports and policies

Focussing on public health

Every year the Director of Public Health at Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster Council produces a report which focusses on a key public health issue in the two boroughs. The aim of the report is to highlight a specific area of concern and make recommendations for change.

The focus of the 2024 annual report is oral health. Read a summary below, and for more detail read the full report.

Why oral health?

Oral health is a significant issue in Kensington and Chelsea. Around one in four children at age five in Kensington and Chelsea have experienced tooth decay.

Many factors impact oral health, and the issue does not impact everyone equally.

Having good oral health contributes to our overall health and wellbeing. We can all keep our teeth healthy by simply brushing our teeth twice a day, spitting not rinsing, skipping the sugar and visiting the dentist regularly.

What we are doing locally

We are prioritising integrating oral health promotion across everything that we do and the services available to our residents, as part of the Fairer Kensington and Chelsea plan.

There is a wide range of activity across the city focussed on the issues that influence our health, promoting health environments, and promoting oral health. This includes the recent expansion in Early Years settings.

What can I do?

Ditch the sugar. Consuming sugary foods and drinks are the main cause of tooth decay in children.
Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
Regular dental check-ups are important to spot and address any developing issues as early as possible.

Case studies

Oral health prevention in schools

Colville Primary School was the first school in the borough to adopt oral health as their key area of their Healthy School accreditation. The school has taken significant steps to promote oral health, including: