Issue 14 2015
Mouth care matters
Be a flu fighter Free flu vaccinations are available now for all staff - please make sure you protect yourself, your families and our patients against flu.
Coming to your ward soon is Mouth Care Matters - a SASH initiative funded by Health Education Kent, Surrey and Sussex, to improve the oral health of hospitalised adult patients. Evidence suggests improved mouth care of patients can reduce the risk of infections, improve patients general health and lead to shorter hospital stays. SASH is leading the way in patient oral healthcare and is the first trust in England to have a designated mouth care team (pictured above). The programme will be introduced across the south east of England in 2016. The aim of the initiative is that any adult patient hospitalised for more than 24 hours will undergo a mouth care assessment. Healthcare professionals involved in providing mouth care will also have appropriate training. To achieve this goal, four newly recruited oral health trainers are working on the wards delivering mouth care training to staff and providing mouth care for the most vulnerable patients. They are being supported by dentist Charlotte Binks, project lead and consultant in special care dentistry, Mili Doshi, and oral health promoter Jenny Chay.
Our executive team have already joined many of our clinicians to ensure they protect themselves and others. Seasonal flu is highly contagious and is a common viral illness which affects around 15-20% of the population each year. It can be extremely dangerous, particularly for many of our patients who are vulnerable. For some people the illness can lead to complications which are life threatening. In protecting ourselves by getting vaccinated, we help reduce the risk to our patients. Receiving the vaccine also helps reduce the risk of staff being off sick. During the busy winter months this means we can continue to provide the best level of care to our patients.
Michael Wilson, chief executive, receiving his flu vaccination
Occupational health will be visiting wards as well as offering walk-in clinics in their office at East Surrey Hospital (Tuesday to Friday from 9 9.30am and 3 - 3.30pm) and at Crawley Hospital (occupational health office). Dates and times of these and additional flu clinics are advertised on the Intranet under support services/occupational health.
Fiona Allsop, chief nurse (centre photo) and Dr Des Holden, medical director, (above) receive their flu vaccination.
www.surreyandsussex.nhs.uk