A BOLTON dental clinic has shown inspectors it is improving after failing to impress in September.

Oasis Dental Care in Chorley Old Road was found not to be meeting all requirements, including incomplete records and storing medicine alongside food, during a visit by the Care Quality Commission at the end of last year.

Following another visit by inspectors on July 18, the watchdog has now reported that the practice, which provides private and NHS dental treatments, was back on track in providing safe and well-led care.

The report read: "Since the last inspection on September 18, 2015, the practice had effective systems and processes in place to ensure that all care and treatment was carried out safely. For example, staff had completed training in the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.

"As part of the inspection we spoke with a member of staff and they were able to describe to us the signs and symptoms of abuse.

"We saw evidence to show that staff had received appraisals where performance, training requirements and behaviours were discussed."

The practice failed to impress inspectors in September when, in an unannounced comprehensive inspection, they found it to be failing in providing 'safe care' and 'well-led care' within regulations.

Key findings included not following national guidance in the use of rubber dams for root canal treatments, emergency equipment being stored in different places around the practice making it difficult to find in the event of an incident, and no evidence of staff appraisals having taken place.

Inspectors also found it difficult to establish if staff had received the right training as their records were incomplete and concerns over medication being stored alongside food and emergency procedures.

They added: "There was no fire alarm in the building although whistles for the staff were available to use as a fire alarm alternative. We were told that senior management were aware of the issue and were in the process of resolving this matter.

"Improvements were needed in the way medicines used for emergencies were stored.

"Staff had not undertaken recent safeguarding training although we were informed that plans were being made for this training to be provided in the near future.

"There was no evidence of staff appraisals having taken place although new documentation had been set up to indicate this was in the process of being addressed."

However, the report also identified good communication among staff, regular practice meetings and "very happy" patients, who described the dentists as "excellent and professional and the support staff as caring and friendly".

Oasis Dental Care, which has four dentists, two dental hygienists and six dental nurses, declined to comment.