- Dentist
Paragondental
Report from 9 December 2024 assessment
Contents
Judgements
Our view of the service
We carried out this announced on-site assessment on 12 March 2025.
We found the practice had not met all regulations.
Recruitment procedures did not always reflect current legislation.
The practice risk management system needed strengthening to ensure all risks were safely and effectively managed.
Governance arrangements were not always effective, and the culture for continuous improvement needed to be improved.
Patients’ care and treatment was provided in line with current guidance although improvement was needed to the recording of information in patient care records.
Infection control procedures in place were effective.
Patients were treated with dignity and respect and at the time of our assessment, could access care, support and treatment when required.
Paragondental is in Radlett, Hertfordshire and provides predominantly private dental care and treatment for adults and children. In addition, they have a small NHS contract used to provide dental care for children only.
The practice is situated on the first floor and is not wheelchair accessible. Car parking spaces were available near the practice.
The practice had 3 treatment rooms, one of which was not used at the time of our assessment. At the time of our assessment, there was a total of 7 staff, of which there were the principal dentist, 3 dental nurses, 2 dental hygienists and 1 receptionist. We gathered feedback from staff and spoke to a range of staff during our assessment, including the principal dentist, 2 dental nurses, 1 dental hygienist and the receptionist.
The service provides cosmetic treatments which are not in scope of CQC regulation and are not covered in our assessment.
The provider was not complying with Regulation 17 Good governance. Full details of the regulation 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.
People's experience of this service
Two weeks before our on-site assessment, we asked the practice to encourage patients to share their views of the service with us. We received feedback from 12 patients. On the day of our assessment, we saw patient feedback from a further 4 patients. Patient feedback provided a positive view of the dental team and care provided by the practice.
Comments included, “Always so helpful and professional. The best dentist I've ever been to!”
Another comment was “Friendly, thorough and caring. Hygiene and dental services, including implants, are excellent and thoroughly efficient. A long-established and reliable practice. Efficient reminders of appointments are given.”
Patients commented positively about the standards of cleanliness. One patient commented,” The dental surgery is clean, modern and welcoming.”
Patients felt able to book appointments within an acceptable timescale for their needs and said they had enough time during their appointment without feeling rushed.
Comments included, “Great customer service. Clear communication about booking appointments and reminders for them.”
Patients told us they were given clear information to help them make an informed choice about their treatment and any associated costs. They were involved in decisions about their care.
Patients told us that when they were prescribed medicines, sufficient information was given.
The practice shared patient feedback with the team. We were told this was reviewed and where suggestions had been made, appropriate action would be taken.