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Clinics (Dental & IPL) > Dental Practice Registration with the Care Quality Commission

Dental Practice Registration with the Care Quality Commission

Background to Dental Practice CQC Registration

In April 2010, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) introduced a new registration system for all providers of health and social care. The new system was introduced gradually across the care sector with the aim of incorporating primary care services that provide dentistry (NHS and private sector) by April 2011.

This means that in addition to standards set by professional bodies, dental practices now need to register with the CQC and comply with the CQC's "Essential Standards of Quality and Safety" (a set of 28 standards that outline the ideal outcome patients should experience when using a service).

CQC Registration Process for Dental Practices

The registration process involves the completion of application forms and the submission of evidence that will highlight whether a service is able to meet the 28 standards of quality and safety. The CQC will consider the evidence submitted and either approve or refuse the application.

Lasermet’s Service - Reducing the Burden

It is estimated that the average application to register with the CQC takes over 40 hours of work, putting an enormous strain on the day-to-day running of a business. Through years of experience and success working with the CQC and independent healthcare providers, Lasermet has developed a service which not only makes the process of registration less time consuming but crucially, provides on-going support to reduce the burden of regulation once registration is achieved.

Helping you to Register

Our aim is to minimise the time you spend on your application by providing you with guidance and support from our team of advisors who are highly experienced in dealing with CQC registration. We achieve this by providing you with a comprehensive support package, which includes:-

• An Initial Consultation – We will assign your practice with a Registration Advisor who, through a set of targeted questions and observations, will build up a profile of your Practice in order to assemble evidence needed for your application. This meeting will also enable us to provide you with step by step instructions on how to obtain CRB checks, financial checks, medical reports and professional references.
• A Site Audit – If your Practice is involved in laser dentistry, we can also incorporate into the Initial Consultation a site audit providing you with Local Rules for the use of the equipment. You will also benefit from access to on-going advice and support from our team of Laser Protection Advisers (all in accordance with MHRA DB2008 (03) Guidance on the safe use of lasers, intense light source systems and LEDs in medical, surgical, dental and aesthetic practices)
• Provision of Evidence – Following the Initial Consultation, evidence will be collated and issued to you in the format of:-
• Policies and Procedures covering the 28 standards of quality and care including the Department of Health's guidelines on infection control
• Statement of Purpose - a document to outline the aims and objectives of the Practice
• Service User Guide - a comprehensive guide to your services which patients can take away
• Second Visit – This visit is all about finalising your application. We assemble the evidence collected and complete the application forms. We provide advice on what to expect from the next stage and leave you with an application that will be ready to submit to the CQC.
• Continuous Support – Throughout the whole process, you will have unlimited access to telephone and email support from our team of advisers at Lasermet.

On-Going Help and Support

Registering with the CQC isn't the end of the process. Once registered, the CQC will review your service to assess whether essential standards continue to be met. Our aim is to ensure that your Practice remains compliant by providing you with:-

• A Yearly Support Visit
• An Audit and Review of Risk Assessments and Local Rules*
• Guidance on CQC Self-Assessments
• Support for CQC Inspections
• Update of Policies and Procedures
• Unlimited Access to Telephone and Email Support

Service Costs

£288 / quarter plus a one off setup fee of £700^† + VAT

* Local Rules are only required for those practices that use lasers

^† Covers second visit and support through the process of registration with CQC.