Trafalgar Woolston Also known as Smile Dental Care Group - Southampton

We undertook a follow-up on-site inspection on 7 May 2026. 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 Trafalgar Woolston on 22 May 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 the regulation.

The practice had improved their systems to identify and manage risks, including infection prevention and control although there were still areas undergoing further improvement.

Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles although greater oversight of training was required in some areas.

Recruitment procedures whilst improved, still did not always reflect the practice policy.

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.

Trafalgar Woolston is part of Smile Dental Care, a dental group provider. The practice is in Woolston and provides NHS and 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 3 treatment rooms.A further 2 treatment rooms were nearing completion for use. At the time of our inspection, there were 4 dentists, 1 hygienist, 3 dental nurses, 3 trainee dental nurses, 2 receptionists and the practice manager. We gathered feedback from staff and spoke to a range of staff during our inspection, including 2 dentists, 2 dental nurses, 1 trainee dental nurse and the area manager for the group.

We carried out this announced on-site inspection on 22 May 2025.

We found the practice had not met all regulations.

There was a lack of effective leadership and improvements were required to the oversight of the practice to enable the provider to identify where quality of the service was being compromised.

Not all risks associated with undertaking of regulated activities had been suitably identified and mitigated.

Recruitment procedures required improving to ensure that these consistently adhered to current legislation.

Improvements were needed to the infection control procedures to ensure these always reflected current guidance.

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.

Trafalgar Woolston is part of Smile Dental Care, a dental group provider. The practice is in Woolston and provides NHS and 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 3 treatment rooms.At the time of our inspection, there were 4 dentists, 2 dental nurses, 2 trainee dental nurses, 3 receptionists and the practice manager. We gathered feedback from staff and spoke to a range of staff during our inspection, including 2 dentists, 2 dental nurses, 1 trainee dental nurse, the practice manager, the area manager, business development manager, operations director and director for the group.

The provider was not complying with regulation 17, good governance of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. 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.