The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Ashley Down Dental Care

382 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8TR (0117) 924 7005

Provided and run by:
Mr. Frederick Tomas Allahverdin

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

We had previously undertaken an on-site inspection on 27 March 2025 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions.

We found the registered provider was not providing well-led care and was in breach of Regulations 17, 18 and 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

We undertook a follow up on-site inspection on 6 October 2025.

This inspection was carried out to review the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.

We found the practice had met regulations.

The practice had clear and effective processes for managing risks and issues.

Systems and processes were embedded among staff.

The practice is in Bristol and provides NHS Dental Care and treatment for adults and children.

Car parking was available near the practice. Those wishing to become patients at the practice were advised that the building was not wheelchair accessible.

The practice had 5 treatment rooms. 

During our inspection we spoke with the provider and the practice manager.
 

During an assessment under our new approach

We carried out this announced inspection on 27 March 2025.

We found the practice had not met all regulations.

This inspection highlighted several issues and omissions such as those relating to risk management, recruitment, infection prevention and control, and governance.

Patients were treated with dignity and respect.

At the time of our inspection, patients could access care, support and treatment when required.

Patients’ consent to care and treatment was obtained in line with legislation and guidance.

The practice is in Bristol and provides NHS Dental Care and treatment for adults and children.

There was no step-free access to the practice, car parking was available near the practice.

The practice had 5 treatment rooms. 

During our inspection we spoke with the provider, dentist, a trainee dental nurse, a dental nurse, practice manager and 2 receptionists.

The provider was not complying with 4 regulations. Full details of the regulations the provider was not meeting are within the assessment findings below.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this inspection.

18 November 2021

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We undertook a follow up desk-based review of Ashley Down Dental Care on 18 November 2021. This inspection was carried out to review in detail the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.

The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

We undertook a comprehensive inspection of Ashley Down Dental Care on 30 June 2021 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We found the registered provider was not providing well led care and was in breach of regulation 17 good governance of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for Ashley Down Dental Care on our website www.cqc.org.uk.

As part of this inspection we asked:

• Is it well-led?

When one or more of the five questions are not met, we require the service to make improvements and send us an action plan. We then inspect again after a reasonable interval, focusing on the areas where improvement was required.

Our findings were:

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our desk top review on 18 November 2021.

Background

Ashley Down Dental Care is in Horfield, Bristol and provides NHS and private treatment for adults and children.

The treatment rooms are situated on the first and second floor of the practice and only accessible via stairs. The practice is unable to accommodate people who use wheelchairs. There is car parking available near the practice.

The dental team includes four qualified dentists, a foundation dentist, two qualified dental nurses (one is the practice manager), four trainee dental nurses, one dental hygienist, and three receptionists. The practice had previously notified CQC that they were using three dental chairs. They were now using four chairs and the CQC needed to be informed. The provider told us this will be addressed.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, owner of the practice and the practice manager during this review. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records that related to the areas of improvement required.

The practice is open:

  • Monday 8:30am to 6pm
  • Tuesday 8:30am to 6pm
  • Wednesday 8:30am to 5:30pm
  • Thursday 8:30am to 5:30pm
  • Friday 8:30am to 1pm

Our key findings were:

  • The provider had an effective system in place for monitoring staff training, relevant to their role.
  • The provider had an effective system to ensure appropriate checks were completed prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice, in accordance with their policy and legislative requirements.
  • Fire safety had been reviewed to ensure it met with current legislation requirements.
  • The provider had taken action to ensure audits of infection prevention control identified all areas of improvement were identified.

30 June 2021

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 30 June 2021 under section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission, (CQC), inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was not providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Ashley Down Dental Care is in Horfield, Bristol and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The treatment rooms are situated on the first and second floor of the practice and only accessible via stairs. The practice is unable to accommodate people who use wheelchairs. There is car parking available near the practice.

The dental team includes four dentists, two qualified dental nurses, two trainee dental nurses, one dental hygienist, practice manager, finance manager and three receptionists. The practice has four treatment rooms (three of which are currently in use).

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

During the inspection we spoke with three dentists including the principal dentist, two qualified dental nurses, two receptionists and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

  • Monday 8:30am to 6pm
  • Tuesday 8:30am to 6pm
  • Wednesday 8:30am to 5:30pm
  • Thursday 8:30am to 5:30pm
  • Friday 8:30am to 1pm

Our key findings were:

  • The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
  • The provider’s infection control protocols reflected published guidance; some improvements were however needed.
  • Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
  • The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff, which could be improved. For example, undertaking an appropriate fire risk assessment to ensure relevant fire risks had been mitigated.
  • The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
  • The provider had staff recruitment procedures that reflected current legislation. These were not always followed when staff were recruited.
  • The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
  • Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
  • Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
  • Staff training was not always monitored to ensure staff were effectively supported to complete their continuing professional development and mandatory training.
  • The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
  • The provider had information governance arrangements that reflected current guidance.

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

  • Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

Full details of the regulation the provider is not meeting is at the end of this report.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

  • Take action to ensure that all clinical staff have adequate immunity for vaccine preventable infectious diseases.
  • Take action to ensure all clinicians are adequately supported by a trained member of the dental team when treating patients in a dental setting taking into account the guidance issued by the General Dental Council. In particular, ensuring a risk assessment to mitigate any risks is undertaken for clinical staff working on their own.
  • Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account guidelines when prescribing antibiotics and implement a full antibiotic prescribing audit taking into account the Faculty of General Dental Practice guidelines.

9 November 2012

During a routine inspection

Patients that we spoke with on the day of our visit were happy with the service they received from the practice. We were told that treatment options were well explained and that the costs were made clear. One person that we spoke with was undergoing a complex course of treatment and from our conversation it was clear that they had understood the treatment and what it entailed.

We saw that staff undertook a range of courses and training sessions to support them in their work. Continuing professional development is important as it allows staff to keep up to date with latest guidance and best practice. Training that had been undertaken included safeguarding and first aid.

We saw that arrangements for decontamination and sterilisation met with the requirements of the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05. This is the guidance that all dentists are required to follow in order to ensure that their practice is safe and minimises the risk of cross infection.