As this was an announced follow up inspection, there were limited numbers of patients waiting to be seen on the day of our visit. However, one person we were able to talk with told us they had been with the dental practice for a number of years and were very happy with the service they received.

We went through the improvement plan submitted by the provider. We found that building work had been completed to close an opening between treatment rooms that were previously separated by a sliding door. This meant that any treatment and consultation conversations between patient and dentist could not be overheard by people in the adjacent treatment room.

To address the issues around patient privacy and confidentiality, the practice manager had conducted a review of the times that each treatment room was used each day. This resulted in a number of time slots, available on each day, which could be used by reception staff to offer patients more private conversations when they registered with the practice, or if patients wished to give details of pre-existing health conditions. It also gave staff the space and time to offer support to people in completion of registration forms, or to explain any steps patients had to follow before or after treatment. We were able to observe staff utilising the treatment rooms for this purpose on the day of our visit. This demonstrated the practice had been responsive when addressing concerns some patients had raised about confidentiality.

During our inspection we spoke with five people who were waiting to receive dental treatment and with six members of staff who held different roles within the practice.

We found that clear records had been maintained of the treatment people had received and that was planned for them. People told us they had found the practice clean and tidy and that staff had always used disposable equipment if needed. We found that good hygiene practices had been followed. Equipment had been cleaned correctly, tests had been carried out on equipment used and staff had received appropriate training and information.

Information about fees and how to raise any complaints or concerns had been made

available to people via information in reception. People told us that if they had a concern they would have felt confident raising it with staff.

We found that people had been treated with respect and consulted regarding their treatment choices. Arrangements were in place for people to hold private discussions with staff if they wished to do so. We found that two of the surgeries had an ill-fitting door linking them. This meant that conversations could be overheard, thereby compromising people’s right to privacy.