Enter and view: Hurlfield Dental Practice

Healthwatch Sheffield carried out an Enter and View visit to Hurlfield Dental Practice, a large NHS and private dental practice serving more than 31,000 registered patients. Overall, the practice was found to be busy, well organised and highly regarded by patients. Inspectors noted positive feedback from both patients and staff, a strong commitment to clinical standards and a stable workforce with many long-serving employees. 

The practice occupied a large, adapted building close to Manor Top, with good public transport links and ample parking. The premises were clean, well maintained and equipped with modern sterilisation facilities and patient information resources. However, the age and layout of the building created some accessibility challenges. While wheelchair users could access ground-floor surgeries, there was no disabled toilet, some doors were difficult to navigate, and the reception desk did not have a lowered section for wheelchair users. 

Staff retention was strong, with several employees having worked at the practice for many years. The practice also trained newly qualified dentists and trainee dental nurses, helping to support future workforce development. Mandatory training covered safeguarding, infection control, confidentiality, data protection, manual handling and CPR. Staff described the practice positively, with one employee stating they "love working here", while Healthwatch noted a strong emphasis on ethical clinical decision-making rather than simply meeting contractual targets. 

Patient feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Patients reported being able to see the same dentist regularly, obtain appointments when required and receive caring, reassuring treatment. Comments included "Best dentist's practice been to", "no complaints - they're very good" and "I've been coming years and they've been faultless". Emergency appointments were generally available on the same day. However, the practice experienced relatively high numbers of missed appointments, with 159 recorded in one month, and Healthwatch recommended exploring attendance patterns and possible reminder systems to improve efficiency. 

Healthwatch concluded that Hurlfield Dental Practice provided a high-quality service with very positive patient experiences. Recommendations focused primarily on accessibility improvements, including easier entrance doors, wider internal access, a disabled toilet and better reception facilities for wheelchair users. The provider responded positively, confirming that many of these improvements had already been included within future refurbishment and development plans.