Our inspection on 7 January 2014 found that patients had not always been protected from the risks of infection, because the provider had not taken appropriate measures to ensure that the risk and spread of infection was minimised at all times.

We asked the provider to take action to address these concerns. They wrote to us confirming that all required actions had been taken to comply with the regulations regarding cleanliness and infection control. A planned follow-up inspection was scheduled to check that the provider had achieved compliance.

At this inspection on the 18 June 2014, we found that the provider was able to demonstrate that they had met the compliance actions set to address the areas of concern identified at our previous inspection.

Thakray Dental Practice had three surgeries with a separate decontamination room. Surgeries one and two were located on the ground floor, surgery three was located on the first floor. The decontamination room was located on the ground floor and access to the decontamination room was via the kitchen/staff room. We carried out a visit to the practice to look at infection control systems. This was in response to concerns that had been raised with the Care Quality Commission.

During our visit we found that all areas of the practice were clean. Staff were trained in infection control and knew what to do to make sure that patients were safe. There were systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. However these systems were not always implemented effectively.

Overall we found that this service had not achieved compliance with the standard we inspected at the time of our visit. However the practice manager took immediate action to reduce the risk of infection while we were on the premises. We have judged the risk to people to be moderate.

On the day of the visit we saw that one dentist, one dental nurse and the receptionist were working in the practice. The principal dentist assisted with the inspection process.

People were positive about the treatment received at Thakray Dental practice. People’s comments included, “Thank you for all your kindness, care and patience during my treatment. I really have appreciated the time and effort you have both put in to my dental care”, “The dentist made me feel at ease, I cannot fault it at all” and “It is very clean, everything is wiped down, even the arms of the chair are covered”.

People were given all the information they needed to make an informed decision about their treatment, and were asked to sign their consent to such treatment.

Staff at the practice, were given regular training and were given a professional appraisal of their work every year.

People were asked for their views about their care and treatment and were cared for in a clean, hygienic environment.

A complaints/comments system was in place that encouraged patient feedback as this was considered important for improving the service.