MOUTH CANCER SCREENING ACCREDITIATION SCHEME PRACTICE OF THE MONTH –EVESHAM DENTAL HEALTH TEAM
THURSDAY, 28TH NOVEMBER 2013
PRESS RELEASE– FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Interviews Available:Mouth Cancer Foundation Consultant – Elizabeth Laverack
Evesham Dental Health Team – Lorna Colebourne
To set up an interview andfor more informationplease call Media Ambitions on + 44 (0) 208 940 2222 or email .
Today, a leading family owned dentist, Evesham Dental Health Team, is announced as the Mouth Cancer Foundation’s ‘Practice of the Month’ for December. The team has proven they go above and beyond to implement the charity’s Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme* so was chosen from all dental practices across the UK who have signed up to the charity’s new scheme. By joining the scheme the dental practice is placing the onus on their own team to actively prove they are carrying out a thorough head and neck cancer check at routine appointments.
The scheme is a ‘Two minutes to save a life’ screening protocol, which is a 10-point checklist that every dentist should be able to include in their routine examinations, whether they’re based at an NHS, private or mixed practice. The charity accredits dental practices that meet the criteria.
Here Practice Manager Lorna Colebourne outlines how Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme has inspired her team to raise public awareness of mouth cancer.
Practice Name:Evesham Dental Health Team
Practice Address:16 Broadway Road, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 1BG
Size of Practice:3 dentists, 2 therapists, 2 hygienists, 9 nurses, 2 receptionists, 1 manager
Practice website:
Scheme Lead: Lorna Colebourne
Tell Us about Your Practice
Evesham Dental Health Team was established in August 2000 by dentist Richard Colebourne and wife Lorna. They offer the full range of treatments expected of a family dental practice, including preventive care, fillings, crowns (including CEREC), extractions and dentures as well as more complicated procedures such as root canal therapy, bridges and implants. They provide sedation to help patients relax, and have established an excellent reputation for cosmetic treatments.
The whole team is fully involved in the care of patients, and have trained to extend their roles in line with recent General Dental Council guidelines. The practice invests a great deal of time in professional development, and this enthusiasm for learning allows patients to benefit from any improvements in dentistry as soon as possible. Evesham Dental Health use the finest materials and the best of modern technology to provide quality dental treatment that looks great, feels good and lasts a long time.
What attracted you to the Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme?
We were attracted to the Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme because it is a great way of promoting good practice within the profession and of raising public awareness of mouth cancer. At every dental health review we have always provided a conventional mouth cancer screening examination, featuring palpation of the face and neck and inspection under direct vision. In 2011 we decided to improve our early detection of mouth cancer by using a portable cordless VELscope Vx as part of every routine mouth cancer screening. Studies have shown that the VELscope can detect cases of cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions that might be invisible to the naked eye. We all know that finding mouth cancer in its early stages is the key to survival. Early detection will help limit the serious physical and psychological repercussions that this disfiguring disease has on survivors, significantly enhancing the mouth cancer victims’ quality of life.
How has the Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme helped Evesham Dental Health Team reach best practice standards in the management of mouth cancer in general practice?
Our participation in the Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme has provided further in-depth training for the whole team, not only helping us meet GDC requirements for CPD, but also ensuring that our receptionists and nurses are more knowledgeable and involved in the mouth cancer screening process. The Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme has enabled us to create a structure for centrally recording our mouth cancer screening. It has prompted us to keep a track of referrals and outcomes. Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme has also provided us with support in developing a written policy and protocols for referral pathways.
What benefits has Evesham Dental Health Team seen for the team, patients and wider community since introducing the Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme into practice?
Our whole practice team is really focused on and more knowledgeable about mouth cancer after undergoing Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme training. Because of this we are sure that if a patient or member of the public were to talk to any one of us about a strange lump, ulcer, pain or patch in the head, neck or mouth region, we would all be much more confident in our advice to get it checked as soon as possible by a dentist. We are all more aware of the risk factors involved in mouth cancer and are likely to discuss these more frequently with patients within the practice and our wider community.
The scheme has also given us materials to promote awareness of mouth cancer symptoms to local doctors, and promote the need for regular screening to the wider community. The Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme ‘free screening day’ in September has given us encouragement to offer free screening to any member of the public who might be concerned about mouth cancer.
What the Team thinks about the Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme
“We have always considered the soft tissue review an important part of our examination procedure and our patients are used to the ‘tongue aerobics’ now! We added the VELscope Vx screening to our checks a couple of years ago and we feel that being part of the Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme is the next step in our practice development.”
Sharon (Dental Health Nurse)
“Our practice has always spent a lot of time checking our patient’s soft tissues, neck and face for mouth cancer at each routine examination. Joining the Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme has given our practice recognition by raising public awareness of mouth cancer. It has also provided a more detailed training scheme enabling the whole team to recognise the early symptoms of mouth cancer and therefore make sure our patients are seen as soon as possible. It has also provided a structure to help us keep track of referrals, reviews and outcomes to benefit our patients.”
Claire (Dental Health Nurse)
What the Patients Say about Evesham Dental Health Team
“I was very grateful when I was recommended to EDHT by a friend as I was dissatisfied with the treatment that I was receiving elsewhere. I never saw the same dentist twice! When I came to EDHT I found it very relaxing and found all the nurses, receptionists, hygienists and dentists brilliant! I owe eternal thanks to Dr Paul Kidman after he spotted the white patch on my tongue and arranged an appointment with a specialist at Cheltenham General Hospital. This turned out to be dysplasia (mouth cancer). Had I not gone to EDHT, I doubt that it would ever have been spotted. I then had to have surgery to remove the cancer. After that, I continued to receive excellent care at EDHT and Dr Jessica Crawford-Clarke has just completed some very professional, brilliant cosmetic treatment for me. She is a lovely lady and an excellent dentist!
I would certainly recommend this practice to other people, and have already! I can only describe my experience at EDHT as “life changing”, not just for discovering my cancer and getting rid of my brown crooked teeth, but for making me feel very relaxed about receiving any treatment. I am a very pleased and satisfied patient.”
Mr R M (Evesham)
“Having joined EDHT after my previous dentist retired, I am really impressed with the practice and their preventative care policy. Richard and the team are lovely, and when I come for my appointment it is like meeting friends. It is a very friendly practice and I like it that everyone calls me by my first name. I was aware that my teeth had begun to wear away but it was a passport photo that really brought home to me just how much my teeth had deteriorated. After discussions with Richard about treatment that would improve my smile, he encouraged me and helped me weigh up the costs. I had every confidence in Richard and the team; and felt relaxed and impressed throughout the treatment. I even had a phone call after one particularly long session to make sure I was feeling ok, which I thought was particularly nice. I have now been left feeling over the moon with the results. It has given me so much more confidence and I am smiling all the time now!”
Mrs J S (Evesham)
The Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Schemeis open to any dental practice whose clinicians are registered with the GDC. For more information or to join please contact the Mouth Cancer Foundation via or call +44 (0) 1924 950 950 for more information.
-ENDS-
For general press enquiries, please contact:
Elizabeth Ayto Laverack or Izabela Nair
Media Ambitions - +44 208940 2222
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Mouth Cancer Foundation –
The Mouth Cancer Foundation is a registered charity no. 1109298.
* The Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme helps dentists to know what they are looking for and how to check and refer patients. This will allow head and neck cancers to be caught earlier. Head and neck cancers are particularly vicious and debilitating when detected late. Patients who survive are a huge drain on medical resources for the rest of their lives, in terms of post operative and the psychological care required. With earlier detection, lives are saved and costs on the NHS will reduce dramatically.
The scheme isa ‘Two minutes to save a life’ screening protocol, which is a 10-point checklist that every dentist should be able to include in their routine examinations.
Full membership includes access to a dedicated section of the charity website and FREE 1 hour CPD element as well as professional development and training modules suitable for all members of the practice team to ensure regular screening benefits practice patients.
In the UK, nearly 8000 people are diagnosed with Mouth Cancer every year. Cancers can occur in any part of the mouth, tongue, lips, and adjacent areas like the throat, salivary glands, pharynx, larynx, sinus, and other sites in the head and neck area. In its very early stages, these Mouth Cancers can be easy to ignore. Symptoms include:
1. An ulcer or white or red patch anywhere in the mouth that does not heal within 3 weeks
2. A lump or swelling anywhere in the mouth, jaw or neck that persists for more than 3 weeks
3. A difficulty in swallowing, chewing or moving the jaw or tongue
5. A numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth
6. A feeling that something is caught in the throat
7. A chronic sore throat or hoarseness that persists more than 6 weeks
8. An unexplained loosening of teeth with no dental cause
More information about Mouth Cancer is available at the Mouth Cancer Foundation web site or by emailing .
Mouth Cancer Foundation © 2013