We undertook an inspection on 23 May 2012. We found the provider was not meeting two of the ‘Essential Standards of Quality and Safety’. The inspection indentified concerns regarding the following outcomes:

• Care and welfare of people who use the service

• Cleanliness and infection control

The provider was required to provide a report that stated what action they were going to take to achieve compliance with these essential standards. The provider submitted an action plan on 29 June 2012. The purpose of the inspection was to check that the necessary improvements had been made to ensure compliance with the essential standards.

We found that the practice had emergency equipment available that was kept in a central place and was accessible to all staff. The equipment was fully operational and contained all the required elements and medicines.

Since our inspection we found that the practice had introduced quarterly infection control audits. The practice had implemented records to evidence that cleaning routines were completed.

In order to prevent the spread of infection all floors were sealed and dental chair mechanics were boxed. In one of the surgeries we viewed, we noted some areas that required further attention and these were highlighted with the practice manager.

We found that the appropriate action had been taken to ensure that the provider was now meeting the two outstanding outcomes of the ‘Essential Standards of Quality and Safety’.

We spoke with five people who used the practice and they told us they were extremely happy with the service provided. One person told us “the team are professional and friendly”. Another person told us: “I am treated as an individual and they respond quickly when there is a problem”. A third person told us they felt “fully relaxed” when visiting the practice.

All five people told us they felt they were given enough information about their treatment options and relevant fees as well as time to ask questions in order to make an informed decision.

The five people we spoke with told us the staff were friendly and treated them with respect and their privacy was maintained. They told us they felt confident and comfortable with the practice staff. Three people told us there was good availability and flexibility of appointments, while another person told us the time keeping was “good”.

An audit for accessibility in line with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 rated the premises as not suitable for people who used wheelchairs. Handrails were in place to assist people in using the steps and steep slope. One person told us these were helpful.