CQC publish report on oral health in care homes

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) published its latest report on oral care health in care homes. Their findings reflect what people have been telling Healthwatch, including the problems people face in accessing dentists.
A cup of pink liquid and a tap in a dentist's room

Key findings from CQC are:

  • People who live in care homes do not always get the support they need to maintain good oral health.
  • 52% of care homes have no policy in place to support residents' oral health. This could mean care home staff are not aware of the need to support people with daily mouth care, like brushing their teeth.
  • Many residents are not able to access oral health products like toothbrushes as care homes would not provide them, as they are seen as a cosmetic product, not a health care one.
  • One third of care homes said they had had difficulty accessing routine NHS dentistry services. Some managers reported that domiciliary dentists refused to visit care homes.

In response to the publication of the report, Healthwatch England Chair, Sir Robert Francis QC, said: “This report makes it clear that this issue is about more than just about access to dentists in care homes. The lack of availability of dentists is a growing issue that needs immediate attention. There is an increasing number of people who struggle to access high street dentists, and we urgently need to look at how we can successfully address this issue."

Link to the report