Spotlight on: the Oral Health Promotion Service

The Oral Health Promotion Service has a dedicated team of Oral Health Promotion Advisors working within the Community Specialist Dental Service. We liaise with other health and social care professionals to provide joined up care both in the community and within our hospital trust to optimise oral health.

The team provides:

Free mouth care training sessions for health/social care and education professionals
Free practical, on-site training to support carers
Advice on specific problems, such as challenges whilst carrying out mouth care, as well as guidance on making healthy food choices.
Advice on commonly found oral conditions and how to manage them
Support and signposting professionals for dental referrals
Training on a range of oral hygiene aids, including those developed specifically for people with additional needs

The oral health promotion team are unable to answer any acute patient queries or attend ward areas and clean mouths or remove secretions from in-patients mouths. For urgent dental issues these must be directed to the clinical dental team.

'In recent times, I have utilised admissions to Richardson for respite direct from my fracture clinic, even at weekends. I have never worked anywhere with this efficiency before - it is reassuring and invaluable for the patient.'

Patient, Lowson / Starling Wards, Richardson Hospital