Fresh start

The CQC has published its views on potential changes to the way it regulates primary care dental services in England from 2015 onwards.

The CQC primary care dental signposting statement, ‘A fresh start for the regulation and inspection of primary dental care services’, comes ahead of a formal consultation and the start of trial inspections in November 2014. The new approach to regulation and inspection will be developed in partnership with other national organisations, dental care providers and people who use dental services.
 
In making sure that people receive safe, effective, high quality care, the CQC wants to ensure that regulation is proportionate and appropriate to the different sectors it regulates. 

The statement considers whether every inspection team should include a dental specialist advisor and people with extensive understanding of dental services, acting as ‘experts by experience.’

Because of the view that people using dental services are less likely to experience poor care, CQC proposes to inspect 10 per cent of providers, focusing attention upon those that are seen as ‘cause for concern’, in the short term from spring 2015.  However, if CQC does have any concerns about any service they will conduct inspections. CQC will also be seeking views on whether to provide ratings to dental practices after 2016.
 
For its new style dental inspections, CQC intends to make better use of intelligence about services and take a collaborative approach with partners such as the General Dental Council, NHS England and the NHS Business Services Authority in monitoring dental care standards. The regulator also wants to make sure that comments and feedback from the public and groups such as Healthwatch are integral to regulation.