Be prepared

Commenting on the new CQC inspections, Roger Matthews, Chief Dental Officer at Denplan Ltd said: “Although these may be unfamiliar terms, the requirements for practices have not drastically changed that much from the 2011 ‘outcomes’. Familiar topics such as safeguarding, consent, infection control, complaints processes and staff records are still there.  However, dentists still need to take note of some of the fundamental differences in these inspections.

“With the presence of a technical expert, who may be a dentist or a dental care professional, the process is likely to be better informed and potentially more detailed. Two weeks’ notice of inspections will be standard however where there is a specific concern, unannounced inspections may take place. It is vital that all the team are aware of policies and procedures, should the principal dentist or other senior staff be away. We would encourage dentists to read the CQC provider handbook when it is published and ensure that everyone is aware of where information is kept and understands how an inspection might be conducted.