The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

University of Bath Dental Centre

Quarry House, North Road, Claverton Down, Bath, Avon, BA2 7AY (01225) 386065

Provided and run by:
Miss Kathryn Timothy

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

We carried out this announced on-site inspection on 6 October 2026.

We found the practice had not met all regulations.

Staff provided care and treatment in line with current guidance. They treated patients with dignity and respect and ensured access to care, support, and treatment when required.

Systems and processes were in place; however, aspects of monitoring, documentation and oversight required strengthening to ensure that all risks were consistently identified, assessed, and mitigated.

We found shortfalls in appropriately assessing and mitigating risks in relation to the control of substances hazardous to health, radiography, medical emergencies, staffing, and infection prevention and control.

The management of fire safety required improvement to ensure national guidance was followed.

The practice had a recruitment policy and procedures that reflected relevant legislation. However, these were not consistently followed for locum staff.

Although there are issues to be addressed, the impact of our concerns relates to the governance and the oversight of the risks, rather than a patient safety risk.

The practice is in Bath and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for the University of Bath’s students, staff, and their families.

The practice is not suitable for patients with limited mobility due to internal stairs. If patients contact the practice to discuss mobility needs the staff team can advise how they can assist or direct to a more accessible practice.

The practice had 1 treatment room.

At the time of our inspection, there was a total of 4 staff, of which there were 2 dentists and 2 dental nurses.

We gathered feedback from and spoke to staff during our inspection, including a dentist and 2 dental nurses.

The provider was not complying with Regulation 17 Good Governance. 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.

19 August 2013

During an inspection looking at part of the service

When we visited the University of Bath Dental Centre in November 2012 we found improvements were needed in infection prevention and control procedures and processes. This included improvements to fixtures and fittings, decontamination work-flow, and some audit routines and procedures.

The practice sent us an action plan and outlined how it intended to improve. This included when the refurbishment of the practice would be completed, which was by the summer of 2013. We went back to the practice in August 2013 to review the improvements. We found the practice had been extensively refurbished.

This included all areas being repainted; flooring in the hallway and waiting room being cleaned; the treatment room being refitted to a high standard; new dental chairs and dental equipment; and a separate decontamination room being created and fitted out.

The practice was clean and well maintained. All the procedures and policies met the requirements of the guidance for cleanliness and infection control.

13 November 2012

During a routine inspection

People told us they were treated with dignity and respect. People said staff were "very nice", "professional, warm and reassuring". People said they could always get an appointment to suit them.

People felt the care and treatment was "excellent", "very good", and "I cannot fault it." We were told staff were "professional, but also friendly" and "courteous and nice." One person who had left the university some years previously said: "I don't live in the area anymore, but I still come back to this dentist."

We found people were able to give valid informed consent to any treatment. Their records were fit for purpose and held securely and confidentially.

Staff were well supported and trained to give safe and effective care.

The practice was not meeting the Department of Health guidelines for decontamination and cross-infection control in a number of areas. The storage of clean instruments did not follow recommended practice. The work surfaces were no longer sealed in places. The dental chair was damaged from wear and tear. The sinks did not meet recommended standards. There was no agreed protocol for manual cleaning or any quarterly audit programme undertaken.