At this follow up inspection, we carried out checks to ensure the provider had met their action plan. We found the provider had made substantial improvements to the decontamination room and was now compliant with infection control guidelines. Medication within the practice was now appropriately stored and all emergency medication was in date.
Guidance for the decontamination of instruments recommends that sterilised items are stored in bags and dated or if in daily use can be stored on trays that are covered. We found that dental instruments in one surgery were not covered or bagged. We also found in both surgeries that needles had been opened and attached to syringe barrels but there were no patients due in until the Monday morning. This meant the needles would not be sterile before use.
We looked at the drugs available for medical emergency situations. Three drugs we looked at within the emergency drug kit were out of date and a further two were due to expire in November 2013. We also found some of the equipment such as syringes was out of date. We found there were no checks in place to check the expiry dates which meant there was a risk that expired drugs could be given to a patient.
We noted that the practice appeared clean and well maintained. Dental nursing staff told us that they hold responsibility for cleaning all areas above the floor level and that there are arrangements in place to maintain hygiene standards throughout the practice.