During and after our visit we spoke with four people about their care and treatment. Everybody told us that the dentist discussed their treatment with them which included the risks and benefits of each option. They said they fully understood the treatment choices available and felt able to ask questions about their treatment at any time. “The dentist makes recommendations but it is my decision.” Another person told us about their examination: “I came with a broken tooth, x-rays were taken, everything was explained and they gave me prices. I agreed to proceed.”

The practice did not have a separate decontamination room. However they had a detailed best practice plan which outlined various possibilities for incorporating a separate decontamination area within the constraints of the period building. Staff had procedures in place to clean and sterilise instruments in the surgery.

Staff we spoke with said they were well supported by the dentist who was the provider of this service. All staff had taken part in the provider’s appraisal process. Staff completed a personal development plan which included reflecting on their practice. All staff training had been documented in personal files to ensure sufficient hours of continuing professional development (CPD) had taken place.

One of the people we spoke with told us that they had, in the past, made a complaint. They said: “It was all resolved, I was happy with the outcome.”