Salute to the team that’s stopping the rot

BRUSH with success . . . from left dental officer Dipika Jariwala, dental nurse Kathryn Barber and dental nurse lead Christina Thomas

OLDHAM’S community dental team has been nominated for a national award for its fight to prevent tooth decay.

The service has been shortlisted in the Health Service Journal awards because it is helping to make a real difference to the health of local people through simple means.

These include Oldham dental nurse Kathryn Barber who works with the service and runs a clinic providing oral health advice tailored to family needs at the Cannon Street health centre.

Kathryn is one of only three dental nurses in England currently trained to apply fluoride varnish which is recognised as one of the most effective ways to prevent tooth decay.

Terry Lewis, clinical director of the community dental service, said: “We’re delighted. We have developed a simple and effective programme to improve oral health in Oldham and I am lucky to lead a team of such committed people.

They will then find out if they have won at an awards ceremony in London on December 1.