News brief

Dental

RCSEd Dental Dean reacts to study linking fluoride in water to lower IQ in children

Professor Grant McIntyre, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, has reacted to a study in US medical journal JAMA Paediatrics purporting to link a higher exposure to fluoride in water to lower IQ in children. 

Professor McIntyre said: “This study should not be regarded as providing any proof that fluoridation in water is harmful. On the contrary, there is overwhelming evidence to show that fluoridation has huge public health benefits.

“Even the study’s authors admit there are flaws in the report’s methodology. For example, whilst the study analysed data from 74 studies conducted in 10 countries, 52 of these studies were in, their view, of ‘low quality’. Indeed, the report’s authors themselves acknowledge that there are not enough data to determine if 0.7mg/l of fluoride exposure in drinking water affected children’s IQ.

“Furthermore, almost all of these studies were conducted in settings where other contaminants, such as coal pollution in China, were present, and based on single-point urine samples instead of 24-hour collections, which provide greater accuracy.

“Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in soil, food and drink and also in drinking water supplies. It helps restore minerals lost to acid breakdown in teeth, reduces acid production by cavity-causing bacteria and makes it harder for these bacteria to stick to the teeth. In some parts of England, local geology means the level of fluoride in public water is already at the level (1mg/l) that fluoridation schemes run at. This, one should note, is well below the World Health Organization’s safety limit of 1.5mg/l.

“Public Health England estimates that if all five-year-olds in England drinking water with 0.2mg/l of fluoride instead received fluoridated water of at least 0.7mg/l, then the number experiencing decay would fall by 17% in the least deprived areas, rising to 28% in the most deprived areas.

“We are confident that fluoridation is safe and has significant benefits to public health in reducing tooth decay, particularly in more deprived areas. A further benefit of water fluoridation over other approaches is that it does not rely on behaviour change, which is particularly important for children and vulnerable groups.”

International

RCSEd announces UK–Malaysia trainee programme

A preliminary programme offering observership opportunities for Malaysian surgical trainees in the UK has officially been launched.

The initiative was marked by a ceremony held at the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, during which a Memorandum of Agreement was exchanged between the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Malaya to establish the Malaysia–United Kingdom Travelling Fellowship.

Professor Rowan Parks, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, said: “Through this programme, we’re hoping to improve healthcare systems by spreading good surgical practices and helping our members and affiliates learn new skills, foster positive relationships and encourage long-term affiliations.

“Exposure to different learning environments is a fantastic way to achieve surgical training aims in different healthcare systems that trainees otherwise would not have access to.”

The event was attended by the Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, and David Wallace, acting British High Commissioner to Malaysia, who served as witnesses to the proceedings.

Commenting on the programme, Murray said: “The UK is recognised for its long-standing and world-class professional healthcare education, and Scotland has some of the leading institutions in various surgical specialties and dentistry. This Fellowship, which sees the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh collaborating with top Malaysian universities, is another testament of the modern partnership between both countries. 

“There is huge potential for cross-border cooperation in the healthcare sector, and I hope to see this Fellowship programme expand to different surgical specialties in the future.”

As part of RCSEd’s dedication to fostering surgical collaborations between the UK and Malaysia, the Travelling Fellowship will enable Malaysian surgical trainees to gain experience at leading surgical centres in the UK.

The first participant of the programme, Dr Wong Sui Weng of Universiti Malaya, will begin her fellowship at London’s St Mary’s Hospital this year. 

Examinations

Royal Colleges across UK and Ireland link up on assessment

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland are now working together to introduce an intercollegiate approach to assessment.

The new assessment strategy for nine dental specialties has been published by the four Surgical Royal Colleges of the UK and Ireland. The strategy outlines the different methods of assessment that will be in place for dental trainees from autumn 2026. The strategy outlines the different methods of assessment both in the workplace and through examination within the relevant training programme. The Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations (DSFE) require an Examination Boards Chairperson to support and provide oversight for the examinations on behalf of the four Colleges, in addition to Examination Board Chairs for each of the 10 specialties. The DSFE website will be updated continually with the latest information at dsfe.org.uk.

Waiting lists

RCSEd welcomes PM’s plan to end waiting list backlogs

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh has welcomed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to end waiting list backlogs through millions more appointments.

Professor Rowan Parks, President of RCSEd, said: “We welcome the plans set out by the Prime Minister to tackle waiting lists, based on increasing patient appointments in community diagnostic centres (CDCs) as well as the plans to launch 14 new and three expanded surgical centres in England by June. This is something RCSEd has been lobbying on for some time and it will help reduce the current long list of patients awaiting assessment and ringfence elective surgery from the impact of seasonal pressures and those of unscheduled care.”

He continued: “In addition to the £1.5bn commitment for capital investment, it will be important that appropriate infrastructure and staffing ensures these facilities can function effectively and efficiently. We are acutely aware of just how much pressure the NHS workforce is under, and the multiple factors affecting recruitment and retention. These proposals need to be complemented by robust and continuous workforce planning to ensure the NHS has the skills and capacity to deliver these objectives.”

Professorship

Dr Li Shu Fan International Professorship launched 

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and The Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation of Hong Kong are delighted to announce the launch of the Dr Li Shu Fan International Professorship. The establishment of this pioneering Professorship illustrates the joint commitment of both organisations to promoting international knowledge exchange to drive forward medical excellence and innovation.

The Professorship is named in honour of Dr Li Shu Fan (1887–1966), the founding member and former medical superintendent of Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital. Dr Li Shu Fan was admitted in 1922 as the first Fellow of RCSEd from Hong Kong, before serving as a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and as head of the Canton Kung Yee University Medical School in Guangzhou. 

Dr Li Shu Fan was a distinguished leader in the medical profession and played a major part in pioneering Western medicine in China and promoting the health of his compatriots. This vision was encapsulated in his decision to establish The Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation in 1963, which is dedicated to promoting medical education, research and supporting medical charities.

The Professorship is available to Fellows of RCSEd, based in the UK or Hong Kong, who have a minimum of five years of consultancy experience in any surgical specialty. 

Applicants should be able to demonstrate evidence of collaborative and interdisciplinary working and have a strong record of specialist clinical practice and research.

The successful applicant will receive a financial award of up to £50,000 to support their original research and their involvement in educational activities in the UK and Hong Kong throughout their term as the Li Shu
Fan Professor. This year’s applications closed on 28 February.

This Professorship has been made possible by a generous donation from The Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation of Hong Kong.