- Dentist
Boulevard Dental Surgery
Report from 3 July 2024 assessment
Contents
Judgements
Our view of the service
We carried out this on-site announced assessment on 7 August 2024. We found the practice had met regulations. Recruitment procedures reflected current legislation and there was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement. Patients were treated with dignity and respect and at the time of our assessment, could access care, support and treatment when required. Patients’ care and treatment was provided in line with current guidance and infection control procedures were in place. However, some of the health and safety processes and procedures should be reviewed to ensure staff follow published guidance, in particular around justification of antimicrobial prescribing, sharps safety, and oversight of infection control procedures. Boulevard Dental Surgery is in Blackburn town centre. The practice is located on the first floor accessed by a steep flight of stairs and is not accessible to wheelchair users. The practice owner does not routinely work at this location. At the time of our assessment, the dental team included 1 dentist, 1 dental nurse who also manages the practice, 1 trainee dental nurse and 1 trainee receptionist who has also received training to help with decontamination processes where needed. The practice had 1 treatment room. During the assessment we spoke with the practice owner, the dentist and the dental nurses.
People's experience of this service
Two weeks before our visit, we asked the practice to encourage patients to share their views of the service with us. On the day of our visit, we spoke with 2 patients. Their responses and additional patient feedback we reviewed provided a positive view of the dental team and care provided by the practice. Patient comments included that they could get appointments when they needed them, that staff were welcoming, professional and kind, and that the dentist spent time discussing treatment options with them. 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. Staff gathered feedback from patients, the public and external partners and demonstrated a commitment to acting on feedback. Patients commented positively about the standards of cleanliness.