Town dentist is still not safe

A Spalding dentist is still not providing safe care for patients or complying with regulations and is now facing enforcement action.

The Care Quality Commission’s report into Dr Baber Khan, at The Crescent, says a December inspection was carried out to review actions taken following a previous inspection which showed improvement was needed.

“The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental advisor,” says the most recent report.

“We found that this practice was not providing safe care and was not complying with the relevant regulations. We have told the provider to take action,” it adds.

“At the inspection on December 15 we found the practice had not sustained improvements to comply with the relevant regulations.”

The initial inspection in September was comprehensive and found the dentist wasn’t providing well-led care and was in breach of a regulation.

The most recent inspection says the dentist still did not ensure facilities and equipment were safe.

“A satisfactory five year electrical safety certificate and evidence of maintenance of gas appliances were not available,” the report says.

“Recommended urgent remedial work had not been carried out on the practice’s electrical system,” the inspector said.

In September the CQC had seen an electrical safety certificate from 2018 that had rated the system as unsatisfactory.

A total of 18 defects were identified, including 10 rated as C2 (requiring urgent, remedial action.)

“We did not see evidence that action was taken to address these defects. The provider informed us they were unaware any action was required.

Emergency equipment and medicines were not always available and checked as described in guidance.

A range of items, including oral glucose and adult defibrillation pads were out of date.

“We found glucagon injection stored with food in a domestic fridge. Fridge temperatures were not recorded to ensure the temperature remained within recommended levels,” the report says.

While noting the provider had made some ‘limited’ improvements since September, the inspector said there was no evidence that audits of disability access, dental care records, radiographs and infection prevention and control were undertaken in accordance with current guidance.

The CQC has issued enforcement actions for the dentist to complete before another inspection visit.