Enter and View: Norwood House

Healthwatch North Lincolnshire conducted an Enter and View visit to Norwood House on 26th September 2024 to assess oral health promotion and access to dental services for residents. The visit aimed to compare findings with a similar survey from 2019, focusing on improvements in oral care in care homes. Healthwatch engaged with two residents, six staff members, and the management team to gather insights.

Key findings:

• Norwood House has an oral health policy in place, with oral care incorporated into personal care plans, but assessments are not always conducted on admission.
• Staff provide daily oral hygiene support, though some face challenges with dementia-related difficulties in residents’ oral care routines.
• Training on oral health is provided via e-learning, with staff expressing a desire for face-to-face training.
• Access to dental services is limited, with some residents unable to visit dentists due to dementia-related issues. The home does not have a registered domiciliary dental service.

Recommendations:

• Routine oral health assessments should be conducted upon admission, using the NICE oral health assessment tool.
• The care home should register with a domiciliary dentist to ensure regular access to dental check-ups and treatment for all residents.

Service provider response: The provider confirmed that all residents have now been registered with a domiciliary dentist and that oral health assessments will be routinely completed for new admissions.