The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Ledbury Dental Care

21 The Southend, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 2EY (01531) 632839

Provided and run by:
Ledbury Dental Care Ltd

Important: The provider of this service changed - see old profile

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

We carried out this announced on-site assessment on 25 February 2025.

We found the practice had not met all regulations.

The practice systems to manage risks and infection control procedures required strengthening.

There was no effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.

Patients’ care and treatment was provided in line with current guidance.

Patients were treated with dignity and respect and at the time of our assessment, could access care, support and treatment when required.

The practice is in Ledbury and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The practice was not accessible for patients who used wheelchairs as there was no step-free access to the practice and the treatment room was on the first floor. The provider informed new patients of these restrictions.

The practice had 2 treatment rooms. At the time of our assessment there was total of six staff. In addition to the practice owners (dentist and manager), the practice had 1 employed nurse. Other staff were self-employed and part-time: a receptionist with flexible times and two hygienists at 1 day a week each. We gathered feedback from staff and spoke to a range of staff during our assessment, including the dentist, the dental nurse and the practice manager.

The provider was not complying with 2 regulations. Full details of the regulations the provider was not meeting are within the assessment findings below.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.

26 April 2017

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced inspection on 26 April 2017 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it caring?

• Is it responsive to people’s needs?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Ledbury Dental Care is in Ledbury, Herefordshire and provides private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs however, both of the treatment room are located on the first floor accessed by stairs.

The dental team includes a principal dentist, four dental nurses who also act as receptionists, a dental hygienist therapist and a practice manager. The practice has two treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

On the day of inspection we collected 31 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with one other patient. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, two dental nurses and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Thursday, 9am – 5.30pm

Friday, 9am to 1pm

Our key findings were:

  • We found that the practice ethos was to offer the highest standard of dental care whilst placing emphasis on preventative dental care.
  • The practice was clean and well maintained.
  • The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
  • Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
  • The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
  • The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
  • The principal dentist provided dental care in accordance with current professional and National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
  • Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
  • Information from 31 completed Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards gave us a positive picture of a professional, caring and high quality service.
  • The appointment system met patients’ needs.
  • The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
  • The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
  • The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
  • X-ray audits had not been taken in accordance with current guidance.