Archived: Crystal Smile Dental Care

The provider wrote to us on 11 March 2014 to inform us they would commence with staff appraisals in March 2014 and ensure staff certificates of staff training were kept at the surgery. They informed us they would improve systems for evaluating the safety and the quality of the service.

During this inspection we reviewed the progress the provider had made to meet requirements relating to supporting workers and assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision. We found that the provider had conducted two staff annual appraisals and training records were being kept. We saw that a formal system was now in place for planning annual audits of quality and safety of service provision.

We observed the dentist and staff speaking to patients politely both at the practice and over the telephone and found they were happy to answer questions. We observed that records relating to patients were kept securely ensuring confidentiality.

Patients told us that they were given time to think before undergoing treatment. We saw that the practice employed a dentist who specialised in dental implants and a dental hygienist. This demonstrated that patients had access to appropriate skilled staff to meet their care and treatment needs.

The prevention and control of infection and decontamination of instruments was effectively carried out in accordance with guidance from the Department of Health. Patients we spoke with were positive about the cleanliness of the practice telling us "I am very happy with the clinic. It is always clean when I go there."

We found that staff were supported to some extent in their professional development and encouraged to take part in additional training however there was no formal system of appraisal.

We had concerns that the provider had limited systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of services provided and identify and manage risks.