Archived: Dental Surgery

The provider ensured that the people using the service were respected and involved in making decions about their treatment. Care and treatment were planned and delivered in a way that ensured patients' safety and welfare. There were systems in place to reduce the risk of infection and protect people from cross infection.

People who used the service, staff and visitors were protected against the risks of unsafe or unsuitable premises. The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that patients received. Patients were protected from the risks of unsafe or inappropriate care and treatment because accurate and appropriate records were maintained.

Concerns were about infection control procedures and instrument decontamination. They were also about the condition of the premises from which the dental practice operated.

We did not need to speak to anyone who used the service in order to reach a judgement about these matters.

The practice's written infection control policy that informed staff working practices was not totally accurate and contained some inappropriate guidance. Cleaning equipment was stored improperly and the floor covering of the dectonamination and sterlising room was damaged. These matters compromised infection control procedures.

The safety of the premises had been compromised because some of the systems and equipment in the building had not been managed and maintained properly.

We found that staff recruitment practices were not sufficiently robust. Staff had started work at the practice before all the necessary checks into their suitability had been completed.

Some records that we looked at were inaccurate.