Sister’s toothbrush

SIR – I was saddened to read of Dr Rosemary Longhurst’s experience of a lack of hospital dental care (Letters, May 18).

On my first ward round as a newly qualified doctor in 1966, the sister told me she would be ashamed if a patient in her care were to develop parotitis, an infection of the parotid gland that can be caused by poor oral hygiene.

For patients unable to look after this themselves, she regarded care of the mouth as being one of her most important nursing responsibilities. Professor David Allison

New Malden, Surrey