Watford Smiles - 107 Hempstead Road

During an assessment under our new approach

We carried out this on-site announced assessment on 25 September 2024. We found the practice had not met all regulations. Patients were treated with dignity and respect. At the time of our assessment, patients could access care, support and treatment when required. Patients’ care and treatment was provided in line with current guidance. Record keeping required improvement. There was a lack of effective leadership, and not all risks associated with undertaking of regulated activities had been identified and mitigated. Improvement could be made to recruitment procedures to ensure that appropriate checks are completed prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice. Infection control procedures did not entirely follow published guidance. This service is registered with CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 in respect of some, but not all, of the services it provides. There are some exemptions from regulation by CQC which relate to particular types of regulated activities and services and these are set out in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. The service provides cosmetic treatments, some of which are not in-scope such as certain facial aesthetics procedures. Watford Smiles-107 Hempstead Road is in Watford and provides predominantly private with a small contract to provide NHS dental care and treatment for adults and children. There were 2 steps into the practice with a portable ramp for wheelchair users. Car parking spaces were available at the practice. The practice had 4 treatment rooms. During the assessment we spoke with 1 principal dentist, 2 dental nurses, 4 trainee dental nurses and the practice manager. The provider was not complying with 1 regulation. Full details of the regulation the provider was not meeting are within the quality statement section of the report. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment

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