National Nurses Week: Ensuring our patients get the right oral care

May 14, 2021

Following a pilot on D11, D26, Priory 4 and Newton 4 to improve the oral health of patients, mouth care matters is set to roll out across the organisation in July.

Mouth care matters is a practice guide seeking to improve the oral health of inpatients. Poor oral health of a hospitalised patient can result in an increase in hospital acquired infections, namely hospital and ventilator acquired pneumonia, as well as poorer nutrition. This can result in an increase in the length of stay and care costs, alongside poorer quality of life and dignity for patients.

The pilot on our four wards reduced hospital acquired pneumonia by 40 per cent.

Group Director of Nursing, Medicine and Emergency Care, Julie Thompson explains more in this video.

Today (Friday 14 May) judging will take place for the best mouth care matters ward display board. We will share more details of the winners in the Communications Bulletin next week. Good luck all!