We telephoned the practice and gave them two working days’ notice of our intended visit. When we visited The Crescent we met with the registered manager and looked through staff files and their decontamination processes. We saw that relevant documents and procedures were in place to ensure the safety of people using the service and protect staff from the risks of acquiring an infection.

We spoke with nine people receiving or accompanying people for treatment at the practice. Everyone told us "all the staff are friendly". They were all pleased with the appointment availability and said "they are very accommodating", "appointments have been good", and "able to get an emergency appointment [within] two days".

People's treatment needs were assessed carefully, and treatment was provided effectively by experienced and qualified staff. There were systems in place to provide care in the event of a medical emergency. People told us the staff were helpful, everything was explained, and the dentists discussed treatment options. Everyone said they were involved in their treatment plan and asked for their consent.

People were protected from abuse by staff who were trained and able to watch for signs of abuse and take appropriate action. People who were not able to make their own decisions were assured of being properly identified and assisted to make decisions in their best interest.

People who used this service and staff were not always protected from identifiable risks of acquiring an infection because the operation of systems provided to prevent the spread of infections was not designed in accordance with the guidance from the Department of Health primary care dental practice.

The quality of the service provided was audited and monitored by the staff, the provider and externally by other regulatory bodies.