Last time we inspected this practice in February 2013 we found it was not meeting all the relevant regulations. This time we saw that the staff team had worked very hard to ensure that the practice was fully compliant with the regulations. Only one room was being used for consultations and this benefited from new flooring and storage, as well as new equipment, including the dental chair. Plans were in place to make further improvements which had been recommended by NHS England.

Policies and procedures had been developed and there was evidence of regular checks being carried out on equipment. Service contracts were in place to ensure equipment was well maintained. A dental nurse demonstrated the correct procedures for decontaminating instruments.

We saw certificates which confirmed that staff had recently undertaken appropriate training, for example in basic life support, and we checked that the practice had the recommended emergency medicines on site so they could assist anyone who became seriously unwell on the premises.

We spoke to two people who used the service over the telephone. They were very complimentary about the service they had received over many years. One person said, 'I couldn't fault them at all.'

Patients told us that they were happy with the service provided.

We found a practice that failed to provide evidence that it was following national guidance. There was no coherent system of governance in place. Specific areas of concern were the lack of infection control policies and audits, and the safe operation of diagnostic and decontamination equipment which contributed to concerns regarding patient’s ongoing safety and welfare.

Patients may be at risk because there were inadequate procedures to protect patients in the event of a medical emergency as emergency equipment was not readily available and fit for use.