University of Bristol Dental School

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

We found this dental school was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations and had taken into consideration appropriate guidance.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Learning culture is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Safe systems, pathways and transitions is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Safeguarding is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Involving people to manage risks is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Safe environments is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Safe and effective staffing is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

Staff told us how they ensured the premises and equipment were clean and well maintained. They demonstrated knowledge and awareness of infection prevention and control processes. Staff told us that single use items were not reprocessed.

The clinical and non-clinical areas appeared clean and there was an effective schedule in place to ensure it was kept clean. Staff followed infection control principles, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Hazardous waste was segregated and disposed of safely. We observed the decontamination of used dental instruments aligned with national guidance.

The dental school had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance and the equipment in use. Staff had appropriate training, and the dental school completed infection prevention and control (IPC) audits in line with current guidance. The dental school had procedures to reduce the risk of Legionella, or other bacteria, developing in water systems, in line with a risk assessment. We were made aware of an issue the school had with the quality of the water some months prior to our visit and were shown evidence to confirm this was being addressed. A second legionella risk assessment process was underway at the time of our visit. We will review the outcome of this assessment and any resulting action plans at our next inspection. Improvements could be made to ensure that delegated tasks are monitored by the water quality safety lead to ensure oversight and control is not lost. The dental school had policies and procedures in place to ensure clinical waste was segregated and stored appropriately in line with guidance.

The judgement for Medicines optimisation is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.