Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the progress of the Designed to Smile programme in Pembrokeshire?
The Designed to Smile (D2S) programme is continuing to recover from the impact of the pandemic. Last year, more than 190,000 toothbrushing home packs were distributed to schools, nurseries and by health visitors in Wales.
In 2022-23, 71% of eligible schools in the Hywel Dda University Health Board are participated in the toothbrushing element of the D2S programme. This is the highest level of all health boards and was a significant improvement on the previous year. The D2S annual report for 2022-23 can be read here.
The annual report also highlights an example of good practice where a pathway has been established between the local Designed to Smile team and primary care. This provides a mechanism for the D2S team to direct children into the general dental service when they have concerns about a child’s oral health.