A dental practice has been given a formal warning after an inspection discovered major failures in infection prevention and dealing with complaints.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) discovered the failings following an unannounced inspection on Arcades Dental Surgery, Parchmore Road, Thornton Heath in May.

Inspectors found that, while there was an infection control policy in place, infection control audits had not been carried out, and guidance from the Department of Health was not followed.

The practice was closed due to a flood and owner Anthony D’Souza was unable to show how hygiene standards would be maintained when it reopened.

Inspectors also found the practice did not have an effective system in place for dealing with complaints.

Information provided to patients on how to make a complaint was out of date and ineffective.

Matthew Trainer, the deputy director of CQC in London, said: “The standards the CQC checks are those the law says everyone should expect.

“Our inspectors will return in the near future to carry out another unannounced inspection.

“If we find the practice is not making the required progress we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers further to protect the people who use their services.”