4 February 2014
During a routine inspection
The patients we spoke with were very positive about the service. One patient said the practice was 'fantastic'. Another said the provider was their 'favourite dentist of all time'.
Patients said they were given sufficient information about their treatment and the fees involved, so they could make an informed decision to consent to it. However, we noted that not all the written treatment plans had been fully completed.
The premises had recently been damaged by a flood from a neighbouring property. There had also been problems with damp penetration. As a consequence a lot of paper copies of policies, procedures and some other records relating to the service had been damaged and disposed of. The electronic copies, kept on the practice's computer, had not been updated since 2012. Accordingly, there was no evidence that they had been reviewed or updated since then.
The premises were undergoing redecoration following the flood damage and work to address damp problems. They were visibly clean and tidy. The practice had appropriate cleaning and hygiene procedures. Patients told us they had no concerns regarding the cleanliness of the premises.
Patients were asked for verbal feedback after each visit, but there was no formal process for monitoring and assessing the quality of the service.