A race to help save lives

Sponsored by practice-branded dental plan provider, DPAS, the Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme is the Mouth Cancer Foundation’s new life-saving initiative which accredits dental practices that routinely screen for oral cancer using their ‘2 Minutes to Save a Life’ screening protocol and meet other specific criteria.

The Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme also aims to improve outcomes for head and neck cancer sufferers in accordance with the BDA’s occasional paper for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer and NICE guidelines. In addition, it embraces recent CQC, Information Governance and Clinical Governance requirements, as well as responding to the GDC’s recommendation for continuous professional development for the management of oral cancer.

Explaining her reasons for taking part in the race, Louise said, “As a previous Specialist Dental Nurse in the Regional Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department at St John's Hospital, I worked very closely with patients who had head and neck cancer, so I have seen first hand the devastating impact that mouth cancer can have. This was one of the most rewarding jobs I've ever had, in fact I’m still in contact with some of my previous patients, so I am delighted to do anything I can to help this worthwhile charity bring greater awareness of the need for early detection of mouth cancer.”