We spoke with nine people using the service on the day of the inspection and spoke with staff working at the practice. We observed how staff greeted people and gave them information about the practice and scheduled appointments. Several parents accompanied their children to see the orthodontist and the parents told us that they put their child at ease. Children spoken with said they felt comfortable with the dentist and one child said the dentist had offered them advice of how they should best protect their teeth. Another said, 'The dentist makes me laugh.' Another person told us, 'I have tried other practices but prefer it here. My whole family come here.' Another person said that the surgery was always clean and the staff observed good hygiene practices. Another person described the practice as 'clean but shabby.'We observed staff giving people sufficient information about their treatment options and NHS prices were displayed.
Staff were adequately trained and there were systems in place to support staff although we identified improvements in this area.
The practice had a separate room for the decontamination of the instruments used in surgery. Staff were familiar with the processes and carried out regular checks to ensure equipment was working safety and risk of infection was reduced to them and people using the service.
Staff were familiar with policies and procedures to follow should they believe a child or vunerable adult was at risk or harm.