Care Quality Commission audits: tips for dental nurses

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is an independent body that provides information and regulates the quality and availability of health and adult social care in England. The CQC regulate dentists (and dental practices) and registration has become compulsory as of April 2011. This means that by being registered with them, practices have to abide by a whole host of government standards, from cross-infection control with the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (Department of Health, 2013), to clinical governance and the Clinical Governance Framework – Guidance for Primary Care Dental Services (NHS Primary Care Contracting, 2006). Failure to comply could result in fines, closure of practices, legal action and prosecution. Hence, it is important to comply with them.