We found that the provider’s principal premises were in Darlington. It also treated patients in an ‘outreach’ service, from the premises of a dental provider in Bishop Auckland called Auckland Dental Practice. This service was exclusively for NHS patients already being treated from Falchion’s Darlington based practice.

We undertook this inspection by way of a desk based review. This was because the provider’s principal premises in Darlington were inspected on 3rd April 2012, and the premises used by the provider for their outreach service, Auckland Dental Practice, were inspected on 15th November 2012. Both locations were meeting all the essential standards of quality and safety inspected.

We spoke with the registered manager about the service. He told us Falchion Orthodontics Ltd operated from premises in Darlington. He said the practice was contracted with the primary care trust (PCT) to provide improved access for patients from the Bishop Auckland area. In order to achieve this, Falchion reached an agreement with a dental practice in Bishop Auckland called Auckland Dental Practice, to hire one of their surgeries for approximately three days each month.

Young people received their initial treatment at Darlington and attended up to ten follow-up appointments over an 18 month period at the Bishop Auckland practice.