Stephanie Gillies received the Quality of Patient Safety Improvement Projects/Initiative Patient Safety Award at a recent ceremony hosted by Morecambe Bay NHS Trust for her leadership in a Mouth Care Matters project.

Mouth Care Matters is a healthcare team that aims to address deficiencies in oral care in hospital and community care settings. As dental professionals know, oral health is a key part of general well-being affecting individuals’ ability to communicate, socialise and eat. By providing personalised care, the team is able to improve clinical outcomes and bring increased awareness to the importance of good mouth care, leading to improved general wellness.

Stephanie also delivers presentations to raise awareness among healthcare colleagues on the need to maintain a healthy mouth for all patients under their care. She has introduced Mouth Care Matters trollies onto wards with oral healthcare products specifically to meet patient needs. Her work focuses on people with dementia, people who have suffered a stroke, and patients in end-of-life care.

The judges were very impressed with the nomination submitted by Stephanie’s colleagues. The panel said, “Stephanie is a huge pioneer of Mouth Care Matters. She has been working with stroke wards and showing the nursing team various aids available for patients who have had strokes and how they can be used, as well as educating staff on why mouth care matters.”

Stephanie said, “I am honoured and privileged to receive such a prestigious award for implementing quality safety improvements projects and initiatives. Winning this award would not have been possible without the inspiration I have received from my seniors and work colleagues.

“My advice is never to give up if you are passionate about making a difference – place patient-centred care at the heart of everything. I lost my mum to a stroke in October 2022, and I know she died with a clean, hydrated mouth and had all the correct tools and products to keep her comfortable – that is an important and lasting memory.”

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