Health & Safety

Health, Safety and Patient Protection

At 360 Dental Care, your safety and wellbeing are our highest priority. We are fully committed to creating and maintaining a safe, clean, and supportive environment for all patients, visitors, and team members.

We continuously review our policies and procedures in line with the latest guidance from:

• The General Dental Council (GDC)

• The Care Quality Commission (CQC)

• The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

• NHS England (for best practice standards)

• Other relevant UK laws and regulatory bodies

If you ever notice anything that could pose a risk to health, safety, or comfort, please speak to a member of our team immediately so we can take prompt action.

Our Patient Safety Charter

We are proud to promote a positive safety culture, where patient protection is embedded into everything we do—from clinical care to behind-the-scenes procedures. Our whole team is involved in upholding high standards, and we foster an open, fair environment where staff feel confident to raise concerns or suggest improvements.

Here’s how we keep you safe:

Infection Prevention & Control

• We strictly follow the latest national guidance on infection prevention, including NHS England and HTM 01-05 best practice standards.

• All dental instruments are either single-use or fully sterilised using validated processes after every use.

• We thoroughly decontaminate dental chairs, work surfaces, equipment, and frequently touched areas between patients.

Personal Hygiene & Clinical Standards

• All team members maintain high standards of personal hygiene, including clinical uniforms, hand hygiene, and minimal or no jewellery in clinical areas.

• Protective personal equipment (PPE) is used appropriately and replaced as required.

Water Quality & Equipment Safety

• We routinely test our water systems and disinfect dental unit waterlines to prevent contamination.

• All equipment is regularly serviced and maintained to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Waste Management

• We handle clinical and non-clinical waste in accordance with legal and environmental regulations, using authorised carriers and clear segregation procedures.

Occupational Health & Blood-Borne Infections

• If any team member may be affected by a health issue that could impact patient safety (e.g. a blood-borne virus), we seek expert occupational health advice and follow professional guidance in a confidential and responsible manner.

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

• All team members are fully trained in safeguarding and follow robust procedures to protect children and vulnerable adults. Our safeguarding policy is regularly reviewed and audited.

Risk Management & Continuous Improvement

• We use a clinical governance framework to monitor and improve care quality.

• This includes structured risk assessment, incident reporting, audits, and team learning to ensure we’re always improving the service we deliver.

Leadership and Responsibility

Our Practice Manager has overall responsibility for patient safety and health and safety compliance. They are supported by the wider team through:

• Regular team meetings

• Ongoing staff training

• Personal development reviews and appraisals

• An open-door policy for feedback and suggestions

We actively encourage all patients to share any feedback or concerns with us, and we treat every suggestion as an opportunity to improve.

If you have any questions about safety, infection control, or how we manage risk at the practice, please feel free to speak to a member of our team or contact the Practice Manager directly.

Last updated July 2025