- Dentist
Garstang Dental Referral Practice
Report from 8 May 2025 assessment
Contents
Judgements
Our view of the service
We carried out this announced, on-site inspection on 6 June 2025.
We found the practice had met regulations.
Patients’ care and treatment was provided in line with current guidance, and infection control procedures were in place.
The practice had systems in place to manage risks; however, improvements should be made to ensure that recommendations from risk assessments are acted upon in a timely manner.
Recruitment procedures were in line with current legislation, and there was evidence of effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement. However, the practice should ensure that up-to-date training records are maintained for all staff.
Patients were treated with dignity and respect and at the time of our inspection, could access care, support and treatment when required.
Garstang Dental Referral Practice is part of Portman Dentex, a dental group provider. The practice is in Garstang in Lancashire and provides specialist-lead private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
A portable ramp was available to provide access to the practice, and car parking spaces were located nearby.
The practice had 3 treatment rooms.At the time of our inspection, the dental team consisted of 1 dental hygienist, 1 specialist orthodontist, 1 specialist endodontist, 1 specialist periodontist, 2 specialist prosthodontists, 6 dental nurses including 1 trainee, 1 receptionist and the practice manager.
During the inspection we spoke with the specialist periodontist, 3 dental nurses and the practice manager. 2 of the groups’ Safety and Quality Specialists were also at the practice, supporting the team.
People's experience of this service
Two weeks before our on-site inspection, we asked the practice to encourage patients to share their views of the service with us. We did not receive any direct patient feedback.
We reviewed online patient feedback. Patients expressed high levels of satisfaction with the treatment they received.
The practice shared recent feedback they had received. Comments included; “Everyone is friendly and the practice is spotlessly clean. Everything was explained to me and the end result was what I hoped for”, “Very professional service”, “Made to feel completely at ease - everything explained clearly. I didn’t know going to a Dentist could be so pleasurable!”