Archived: The Crown Street Practice Also known as Queens Road Dental Surgery

We also found that people had been cared for by staff who had not been adequately supported to deliver care and treatment safely and to an appropriate standard. In addition, the provider had not put effective systems in place to identify and manage the risks to the health, safety and welfare of people who used the practice.

The purpose of our inspection on 20 May 2013 was to check that the provider had made the improvements necessary to meet the required minimum standards of quality and safety in each of these areas.

During the inspection we saw that new procedures, equipment and practices had been put in place to improve cleaning processes and minimise the risk of infection. We also saw evidence that arrangements had been put in place to provide staff with appropriate levels of training and support.

Records we looked at showed that an infection control audit had been put in place and arrangements made to obtain feedback from people who used the practice about issues such as cleanliness and the quality of service provided.

People's records looked at included a comprehensive assessment and treatment plan as well as a medical history. They also contained documented evidence that treatment options and risks had been explained to the person using the service.

We found that the provider's processes for decontamination of instruments and systems to manage infection were flawed. This placed people at a greater risk of exposure to infection.

We saw that staff had renewed their registration with the General Dental Council (GDC) in August 2012. This meant that staff had completed their GDC requirements and their skills were up to date with current practice. The provider had no records of staff induction and training and staff did not receive the support of appraisal or supervision.

There were no systems in place to check the quality of the service provided or to gain the views of the people using it. Audits were not available to show that checks were carried out to ensure the premises were clean or that the infection control processes were robust.