OLGA SENIOR
Director of Communications & Corporate Affairs
Trained as a nurse and worked in operating theatres before moving into health service management, she has held roles as a senior civil servant in the Department of Health.
PROF JOHN NEWTON
Regional Director of Public Health
Having qualified in medicine, he worked in hospital medical specialties before training in public health, becoming the first CEO of UK Biobank, a large genetic epidemiology project. Has also been Director of Research and Development and Assistant Medical Director at Southampton University Hospital’s NHS Trust.
TERRY BUTLER CBE
Hampshire County Council’s Director of Social Services from 1988 to 2005, he has regularly acted as a government advisor and currently holds posts on the National Patient Safety Agency, the Information Tribunal, the Relatives and Residents Association and the General Social Care Council.
ALYSON COATES
A research biochemist who worked in international marketing in the biotech industry, she has also spent time in a Government science policy unit and as an investment analyst in bank Societe Generale’s healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.
JOE MCLOONE
Has worked in IT and business systems, and held senior strategy roles during a 20-year career in mobile communications, including serving as Vodatone UK’s Director of Customer Management.
CHRIS LE FEVRE
With more than 30 years experience in the energy and transport sectors, he holds posts with the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation, Network Rail and Action for Children in Conflict, a charity for African street children.
MARTIN HOWELL
Has high-level management experience from 25 years in the steel and construction industry, and is a board member of Thames Valley Crimestoppers and deputy chairman of governors of Sheffield’s two academy schools.
Their views will be carried and work will either begin towards introducing fluoride, or the plans will be abandoned.
If the vote is tied, then chairman Dr Geoffrey Harris – a former medical research scientist – will have the casting say.
“In terms of legislation, the final decision rests with the SHA and that’s basically it – the decision doesn’t get reviewed by the Department of Health,” explained SHA campaigns manager, Kevin McNamara.
“But there is always recourse through the courts, and that’s a possibility that some people have mentioned.”
Should the board vote in favour of fluoridation then, subject to any legal challenge, the real work would begin.
The SHA says it has no firm idea when fluoride would actually start being added to tap water, or how much the scheme will ultimately cost.
Although the scheme has been considered in theory, including estimated costs, detailed preparation has not yet begun.
“None of that work has taken place or really been discussed because we didn’t want people to think we had premeditated the decision, nor do we want to waste that time if it’s not going ahead,” said McNamara.
“There’s a significant amount of work that would have to be done.
“A lot of it would rest on discussion with the water company and getting the legal framework set up between them and the NHS.”
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