At Kew Road Dental, we are a transparent dental practice and believe that the public and our clients should have access to independent reviews of our dentistry. We have dozens of five-star reviews on Google and Facebook to vouch for the quality of our work. However, one of the gold standards is the Care Quality Commission (CQC), an independent regulator that specialises in health and social care services in England.
On 21 February, 2025, we had our last CQC inspection, which was extremely positive. In this article, we will explain why this is important and what it means for you.
What Is The Care Quality Commission (CQC)?
The CQC is an independent body that investigates services provided within health and social care, specifically in England. This includes areas such as GPs, care homes, and dental practices. It was established in 2008 by the Health and Social Care Act to operate independently and provide impartial inspections of facilities. The CQC is funded by registered providers and the government, and is totally impartial. They publish all reports for public viewing on their website.
What Does The CQC Inspection Review?
The CQC works around five main areas, often referred to as ‘KLOEs’ (Key Line of Enquiry). The five key areas they are looking for answers from are:
- Patient safety and protection.
- How effective are the treatments or services offered?
- How do they care and treat their patients?
- Is the practice responsive, accessible and flexible?
- Are they led well with a good culture?
As well as visiting and inspecting our dental practice, they also seek additional ‘evidence.’ This includes patient feedback collected throughout the year and examining the practice's 'digital footprint.'
Why Does It matter?
For a reputable dental practice, the CQC and their finding are extremely important. It provides existing and potential patients with independent verification of your practice, and a positive outcome is important to both staff and patients.
‘At Kew Road Dental, we pride ourselves on the quality of our service and the friendliness of all our staff. Achieving full compliance is paramount.’ Andrew Stevenson, Principal Dentist, GDC No. 74427.
Below are some reasons why the CQC report matters to us:
- It is a legal requirement.
- It externally verifies patient safety and procedures.
- Ensures that we are compassionate and caring to our patients.
- Build trust with the public and create reassurance; it is an extremely powerful third-party endorsement.
- It examines our internal working and leadership, helping us become an even better practice.
- The CQC encourages staff development.
- Ensures compliance and improves business operations.
- It is another driver to help our practice continuously improve and strive for even better service and care.
100% Success Rate: We Met Every Standard
We are incredibly pleased at Kew Road Dental to have achieved a 100% success rate in our latest CQC assessment published on 21, February 2025. It is always great to receive external recognition and validation of the dental-related services we offer to the Richmond community and beyond. Below are some of the key findings from the report.
- All 5 key lines of enquiry passed.
- There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
- The practice had systems to manage risks.
- Patients’ care and treatment were provided in line with current guidance, and infection control procedures were in place.
- Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles.
- A portable ramp was available to allow wheelchair users to access the practice, and car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, were available near the practice.
- Patient feedback provided a positive view of the dental team and care provided by the practice.
- Patients commented positively about the standards of cleanliness.
Summary
At Kew Road Dental, we are all extremely proud to have such a positive review from an independent body such as the CQC. We will continue to try to improve our dental practice and the service we provide to our clients, always striving for the highest clinical standards. If you are looking for a dentist you can trust, contact us for more information or to book an appointment today.