Archived: Dr Manouchehr Yavari - Guildford Dental Surgery

We did not speak to patients about emergency procedures or recruitment and selection of staff at the practice. We did however, speak with the principal dentist and the nurse/receptionist. Since our last inspection in February 2014 the provider had developed an emergency procedure which told staff what to do in the event of a medical emergency. Staff had also received training in resuscitation and life support. Staff told us they felt confident to provide the necessary support and assistance in an emergency situation.

We saw that since the last inspection, the provider had put in place, policies and procedures on recruitment and selection of staff that complied with employment law, equality and human rights. Staff files contained the information required by regulation and schedule. We found the service carried out appropriate checks on staff to ensure they were suitable to work with vulnerable adults and children including 'Disclosure and Barring Service' checks (these checks were formerly known as Criminal Records Bureau checks).

We found patients who use the service were at reduced risk of harm because the practice followed effective recruitment procedures.

The provider failed to ensure staff employed had been suitably vetted prior to employment. Staff had been employed without references being obtained or DBS check carried out.

The provider failed to ensure staff employed had been suitably vetted prior to employment. Staff had been employed without references being obtained or DBS check carried out.

We found the provider had displayed the service's complaints policy and guidelines so that they were easily accessible to people who used the service. People told us they knew how to make a complaint, but they have never done so. One person said, 'I personally would ring or call into the surgery'.

One person wrote, 'I have been using this practice for a number of years and I am very satisfied. The staff respects me and the dentist has provided me with sufficient information that helps me to make choices about my treatment.'

The four people whom we surveyed wrote, 'The practice is comfortable and accommodating and that appointments are flexible to meet our needs.' One person wrote, 'On the one occasion when I needed an urgent appointment I was seen on the same day'.

We found people were involved in making decisions about their care, treatment and support. People were cared for in a clean well maintained environment. We found that the provider had not ensured suitable procedures had been put in place, monitored and maintained to deal with medical emergencies which were reasonably likely to arise. Also the provider had not ensured an effective selection process was in place to ensure suitable staff were employed, and the provider had not brought the complaints system to the attention of people who used the service.