Introduction of Oral health risk assessment by nursing staff to in-patients
Overall goals
• Improve oral care within an acute setting/ integrate oral care into a holistic patient approach
• Identify dental / oral need
• Reduce hospital acquired pneumonia / antibiotic prescription
Key UK Colleagues and Partners
NHS Ayrshire & Arran
International Partners
N/A
Sustainable development goals
- SDG 3 - Good health and well-being
- SDG 10 - Reduced inequalities
Funding source
No funding, part of role
Project origin
Spin off from a North Ayrshire pilot around oral care for dependant older people in care homes.
Evidence of need
N/A
Project areas
Service improvement
Project activities
Introduction/availability of an oral health risk assessment for all admissions and for all long-stay patients. Increased awareness among some nursing staff around the integration of the mouth into medical care.
Changes
• Oral health risk assessment for each admission
• Ongoing oral health assessment for longer –term patients
Next steps
Continue to pursue these aims by widening profile around this tool
Challenges
Pressures on nursing staff/ limited time
Mitigating challenges
N/A
Project gains
- leadership
- teamwork
- awareness
- resilience