Private practice inspections
3 June 2010
Last updated 
Private practice inspections
Dental Protection is aware of an area of uncertainty when Dental Reference Officers undertake an inspection of a private dental practice on behalf of Health Inspectorate Wales. The question has been raised, if it is legal for the records of private patients to be examined during the inspection, without first obtaining the patient's consent?
Dental Protection has now received confirmation that Dental Reference Officers undertaking practice inspections on behalf of Health Inspectorate Wales are legally entitled to inspect patient records. The relevant legislation is contained in the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003. Dental Protection understands that the type and number of records to be inspected will be notified to the practice in advance, with a request that these be anonymised for the duration of the inspection.
Click here to view a copy of the Welsh Assembly Government's document, 'Doing Well, Doing Better; Standards for Health Services in Wales'.