During our last inspection of Dean Kennedy - Market Street in May 2013 we found that whilst patients were happy with the care and treatment they were receiving, they were not always being provided with appropriate information such as details of the costs of treatment or information on how they could raise a complaint or concern.

We also found that paper records and some medicines were not being appropriately stored and that audits were not always being completed. The provider had not ensured that appropriate checks had been undertaken for staff members before they started work.

During this inspection we found that the provider had made a number of improvements to the surgery, including providing a patient information booklet which gave clear details on costs of treatments and how to raise any concerns. Information leaflets were also available on common treatments or dental problems.

Appropriate storage was in place for patients paper records and for the storage of medicines. This helped to ensure patients confidential information was kept securely and that patients were protected from the risks associated with the unsafe use of medicines.

Audits of the cleanliness of the practice and of patient feedback were being completed more frequently and the results were reviewed and action plans put into place. This showed that patients and staff were being asked for their views about the service and that they were being acted upon.

We spoke with three patients who had come for appointments. They were all private patients and were very happy with the treatment they had received. All of the patients felt that the dentist had explained their treatment. Patients told us “The dentist is very reassuring; he helps me to relax and not get worked up”, and “I’m happy here, it’s why I’ve been coming for so long.”

We found that patients’ needs were assessed and that they were asked to complete a medical history questionnaire before being seen in the surgery. This information was then reviewed with the patients at subsequent visits. We found however, that patients were not always being given appropriate information about their treatment, such as details of costs of treatment or how they could raise a complaint or concern.

We found that the decontamination room in the practice, where instruments are cleaned and sterilised, was in the process of being refurbished at the time of our visit. Temporary arrangements had been made to use a downstairs surgery whilst works were completed.

We observed that patients paper records and some medicines were not being stored securely. This meant that patients could not be assured that their confidentiality was protected or that they were protected against the risks of the unsafe use of medicines.

We also found that audits of the service, including patient records, x-rays or infection control, were not being completed.