The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Histon Dental Clinic

10A Station Road, Histon, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB24 9LQ (01223) 566121

Provided and run by:
Dr Damian Rattigan

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

We undertook a follow-up on-site inspection on 7 September 2026. This was carried out to review the actions taken by the registered provider to improve systems and processes relating to governance and to assess whether the practice was meeting legal requirements.

We had previously undertaken an announced on-site inspection on 4 February 2026. 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.

The practice had effective systems to identify and manage risks.

Recruitment procedures reflected current legislation and there was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.

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

There was step-free access to the practice and car parking spaces were available near the practice.

The practice had 2 treatment rooms. At the time of our inspection, there was a total of 7 staff, of which there were 3 dentists (1 of whom provided implants), 1 dental nurse, 1 trainee dental nurse and 2 receptionists.

During an assessment under our new approach

We carried out this announced on-site inspection with remote support from a specialist advisor on 4 February 2026.

We found the practice had not met all regulations.

Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles.

Staff provided care and treatment in line with current guidance. They treated patients with dignity and respect and ensured access to care, support, and treatment when required.

Infection control procedures in place were generally effective.

The practice had some systems to identify and manage risks. Improvements were required to ensure that all risks were identified and managed appropriately.

Recruitment procedures did not reflect current legislation.

Improvements were required to ensure effective leadership.

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

There was step-free access to the practice and car parking spaces were available near the practice.

The practice had 2 treatment rooms. At the time of our inspection, there was a total of 7 staff, of which there were 3 dentists (1 of whom provided implants), 1 dental nurse, 1 trainee dental nurse and 2 receptionists. We gathered feedback from staff and spoke to a range of staff during our inspection.

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.
 

22 November 2016

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 22 November 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Background

Histon Dental Clinic is a well-established family run practice that provides privately funded dental treatment to adults and children. It serves about 3500 patients. The team consists of two dentists who own the practice, two dental nurses, and a receptionist. An implantologist visits to provide dental implants to patients.

The practice is situated in a converted residential property and has two dental treatment rooms and a separate decontamination room for sterilising dental instruments. There is a large patient waiting area, a reception area and staff room.

The practice is open from 7.40am to 4pm from Monday to Thursday; and from 7.40am to 2pm on a Friday.

One of the dentists is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

Before the inspection we sent comment cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice.

Our key findings were:

  • Information from 45 completed Care Quality Commission comment cards gave us a positive picture of a friendly, professional and high quality service.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • The practice had systems to help ensure patient safety. These included safeguarding children and adults from abuse, maintaining the required standards of infection prevention and control, and responding to medical emergencies.
  • Risk assessment was robust and action was taken to protect staff and patients.
  • There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and competent staff. Members of the dental team were up-to-date with their continuing professional development and supported to meet the requirements of their professional registration.
  • Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with current best practice guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and other published guidance.
  • Staff felt well supported and were committed to providing a quality service to their patients.

  • The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted upon.

During a check to make sure that the improvements required had been made

We carried out this follow up review to check the actions the provider had taken to address the compliance action made at the previous inspection.

We followed up one outcome area of non-compliance identified in a previous inspection. We reviewed evidence that demonstrated the provider was compliant with this essential standard.

10 February 2012

During a routine inspection

During our visit we received positive comments from patients stating they had been consulted about their course of treatment and that they had had been given clear information about the choices they could make. They told us they had always been treated with respect whenever they visited the surgery and that all staff had been polite to them. One patient said, "The dentist is fantastic I would not go anywhere else for treatment". Another patient said, "The dentist takes their time to explain everything to me and makes sure that I understand. I can't speak too highly of them". Another patient said, "I have been treated by the same dentist for a long time and that suits me".