The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

The Lytham Dental Clinic

38a Clifton Street, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, FY8 5EW (01253) 736633

Provided and run by:
The Lytham Dental Clinic Limited

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

We undertook a follow-up on-site inspection on 4 November 2025. This was carried out to review the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to assess whether the practice was meeting legal requirements.

We had previously undertaken an announced on-site inspection of The Lytham Dental Clinic on 19 March 2025. We had 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.

During our follow-up inspection, we found the practice had met regulations.

Recruitment procedures reflected current legislation. Complete and up-to-date records were held for all staff.

The practice had systems to identify and manage risks. Fire safety, electrical and radiation protection risks had been addressed.

The storage of clinical waste was in line with legislation and guidance.

The current system of policies and governance supported the practice to ensure effective governance and leadership.

Medical emergency checking procedures should be reviewed to ensure these are in line with current guidance.

Improvements should be made to the infection prevention and control processes.

The practice is in Lytham and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There was step-free access to the practice and car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, were available near the practice.

The practice had 5 treatment rooms. The total number of staff was 24.Two of these attended on an occasional basis to place dental implants and do oral surgery. During the inspection we spoke with the owner who was also the principal dentist, 3 dentists, the orthodontic therapist, 3 dental nurses, the decontamination operative, 1 dental therapist, 2 receptionists and the social media assistant.

During an assessment under our new approach

We carried out this announced, on-site inspection on 19 March 2025.

We found the practice had not met all regulations.

Recruitment procedures did not reflect current legislation. Complete and up-to-date records were not held for all staff.

The practice had some systems to manage risks. However, fire safety and radiation protection risks were not effectively managed.

Infection control procedures should be reviewed to ensure these are in line with current guidance.The storage of clinical waste was not in line with legislation and guidance.

The current system of policies and governance did not support the practice to ensure effective governance and leadership.

Improvements could be made to the processes for responding to complaints.

The oversight of training should be improved to ensure staff complete training at the appropriate intervals.

However, patients’ care and treatment was provided in line with current guidance.

Patients were treated with dignity and respect and at the time of our inspection, could access care, support and treatment when required.

 

The practice is in Lytham and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There was step-free access to the practice and street parking was available near the practice.

The practice had 5 treatment rooms. The total number of staff was 21.Two of these attended on an occasional basis to place dental implants and do oral surgery. During the inspection we spoke with the directors, 3 dentists, the orthodontic therapist, 3 dental nurses, 1 dental therapist, 1 receptionist, the staff member responsible for media and communications, and the practice manager.

The provider was not complying with 1 regulation. Full details of the regulation the provider was not meeting are within the inspection findings below.

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

07 January 2020

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced inspection on 07 January 2020 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 caring?

• Is it responsive to people’s needs?

• Is it well-led?

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

Background

The Lytham Dental Clinic is in Lytham St Annes and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The practice is situated on the first floor of a Victorian building on the main shopping street. There is no access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. The practice will signpost an easily accessible practice to patients who cannot manage the stairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes one dentist, three dental nurses of which one is a trainee, one dental hygiene therapist, a practice manager and one receptionist. There is also a visiting implantologist/dental surgeon. The practice has two treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC as the registered manager. Registered managers have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run. The registered manager at The Lytham Dental Clinic is the principal dentist.

On the day of inspection, we collected 10 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.

During the inspection we spoke with the dentist, three dental nurses, the dental hygiene therapist, one receptionist 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, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.00 – 5.00pm

Thursday from 11.00 – 7.00pm

Our key findings were:

  • The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
  • The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
  • 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.
  • The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
  • The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
  • The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
  • Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
  • Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
  • The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
  • The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
  • The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
  • The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
  • The provider had information governance arrangements.

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

  • Take action to ensure an audit of antimicrobial prescribing is undertaken at regular intervals to improve the quality of the service.

18 October 2012

During a routine inspection

We spoke with a range of people about the service they received. They included the Dentist, the Practice Manager, staff, and people who used the service.

People we spoke with during the inspection told us they were very satisfied with the care provided and they saw their dentist regularly. They told us the service they received from Lytham Dental Clinic was very good. One person said, 'I have never had any reason to fault them. The treatment is excellent.'

People told us that they were able to express their views and were involved in decision making about their treatment and care. They said that the dentist always explained what he was planning to do, what he had found during examination and what the treatment options were. One person told us, 'The dentist is excellent, able to put patients at their ease. He tells me about the treatment in clear terms and we can discuss.' Another person told us, 'I can't recommend this surgery highly enough.'

People said they were confident the treatment they received was always the best and most suitable. They felt comfortable and safe during treatments and that their consent was sought for all treatments undertaken.