- Dentist
Kendal Dental and Implant Centre
Assessment report published 6 October 2025
Contents
Judgements
Our view of the service
We carried out this announced on-site inspection on 19 August 2025.
We found the practice had not met all regulations.
The systems in place to identify and manage risk was ineffective. For example
- In relation to management of medicines and oversight of safety within the practice.
- Governance processes required review, as did arrangements for receipt and sharing of essential safety alerts and updates.
- Recruitment procedures reflected current legislation, but were not applied consistently.
- Protocols for treatment delivered by the dental therapist were not clear.
- Consent to care and treatment did not reflect legislation and guidance.
- Not all staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles.
Patients were treated with dignity and respect and had good access to care, support, and treatment when required.
Kendal Dental and Implant Centre is in Kendal, Cumbria and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
There was step-free access to the practice and car parking spaces were available, including dedicated parking for disabled people, near the practice.
The practice had 4 treatment rooms. At the time of our inspection, there was a total of 8 staff, of which there were 2 dentists, 4 dental nurses, 3 of whom were trainee dental nurses, 1 dental therapist, and the practice manager. The practice employed a visiting dentist that provided implant treatment and a supporting nurse for implant work. We gathered feedback from staff and spoke to a range of staff during our inspection, including 1 dentists 2 dental nurses, 1 compliance support officer and the Registered Manager.
The provider was not complying with Regulations 15 and 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
Full details of the regulation the provider was not meeting are within the inspection report.
We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this inspection.
People's experience of this service
Two weeks before our inspection, we asked the practice to encourage patients to share their views of the service with us. We did not receive any direct feedback from any patients. On the day of our inspection, we reviewed patient feedback from on-line sources. Patient feedback provided an overall positive view of the dental team and care provided by the practice.
Patients commented positively about the standards of cleanliness and felt able to book appointments within an acceptable timescale for their needs, commenting that they had enough time during their appointment without feeling rushed.
We saw patient comments on how they were supported to maintain their oral health and were provided with appropriate information and resources.
The practice shared patient feedback with the team. We were told this was reviewed and where suggestions had been made, appropriate action would be taken.