The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Illume Smiles - Queens Road

3a Queen's Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 2LR (01242) 522230

Provided and run by:
Illume Smiles Limited

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

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

We found the practice had not met all regulations.

We found shortfalls in appropriately assessing and mitigating risks in relation to the control of substances hazardous to health, recruitment, infection prevention and control, data protection (closed circuit television) and fire safety management.


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 Cheltenham and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

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

The practice had 4 treatment rooms.

At the time of our inspection, there was a total of 19 staff, of which there were 3 dentists, 1 oral surgeon, 1 orthodontist, 4 dental nurses, 2 trainee dental nurses, 1 dental hygiene therapist, 2 dental hygienists, 3 receptionists, 1 treatment coordinator and the practice manager.

We gathered feedback and spoke to a range of staff during our inspection, including 2 dentists, 3 dental nurses, 1 dental hygiene therapist, 1 dental hygienist and 2 reception staff.

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.

25 June 2013

During a routine inspection

When we visited Illume Dental Practice we spoke to two patients, a dentist, a dental nurse and the practice manager. We also spoke to a patient on the telephone about the practice. We observed how reception staff communicated with patients, looked at dental records and at how instruments were cleaned and sterilised.

The patients told us that the dentist had always asked about their medical history at every visit and explained their treatment to them. We looked at treatment plans and the information that had been given to patients about their treatment. Computerised treatment plans had been recorded that detailed each visit and also alerted clinicians to any health related concerns.

Patients told us, "all my four children liked going to the dentist and have been referred to the orthodontist", "the dentist is very thorough and treatments are carefully done" and "record keeping excellent between dentists for continuity.

There were effective systems in place to reduce the risk of infection and clinical staff knew about the decontamination procedures to clean and sterilise instruments. The systems in the practice had been regularly audited and patient's views had been sought to help ensure that quality assurance was completed and comments acted upon.