1. What the regulation says
Care and treatment must be provided in a safe way for service users. (Reg 12(1) (the headline duty))
assessing the risks to the health and safety of service users of receiving the care or treatment, (Reg 12(2)(a) (risk assessment))
doing all that is reasonably practicable to mitigate any such risks, (Reg 12(2)(b) (risk mitigation))
ensuring that persons providing care or treatment to service users have the qualifications, competence, skills and experience to do so safely, (Reg 12(2)(c) (staff competence))
ensuring that the equipment used by the service provider for providing care or treatment to a service user is safe for such use and is used in a safe way, (Reg 12(2)(e) (equipment safety))
where equipment or medicines are supplied by the service provider, ensuring that there are sufficient quantities of these to ensure the safety of service users and to meet their needs, (Reg 12(2)(f) (sufficient equipment + medicines supply))
the proper and safe management of medicines, (Reg 12(2)(g) (medicines management))
where responsibility for the care and treatment of service users is shared with, or transferred to, other persons, working with such other persons, service users and other appropriate persons to ensure that timely care planning takes place to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the service users. (Reg 12(2)(i) (shared / transferred responsibility))
The full text is at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/2936/regulation/12. Where this policy and the regulation diverge, the regulation wins.
2. Plain-English summary
Care and treatment must be provided in a safe way. The regulation lists the areas a provider must address, including risk assessment, risk mitigation, staff competence, safe premises, safe equipment, sufficient equipment and medicines, medicines safety, infection prevention and shared-care planning. Regulation 12 is central to CQC's safety expectations.
3. Purpose
This policy sets out how the Practice prepares for, responds to and records medical emergencies in primary-care dental premises.
It covers emergency drugs, emergency equipment, basic life support competence, simulation, escalation, transfer and post-event review.
4. Sources to verify before adoption
- Resuscitation Council UK, Quality Standards: Primary dental care: https://www.resus.org.uk/library/quality-standards-cpr/primary-dental-care
- Resuscitation Council UK, Primary dental care equipment list: https://www.resus.org.uk/library/quality-standards-cpr/primary-dental-care-equipment-list
- GDC Scope of Practice guidance, current version: https://www.gdc-uk.org/standards-guidance/standards-and-guidance/gdc-guidance-for-dental-professionals/scope-of-practice
- GDC Standards for the Dental Team: https://standards.gdc-uk.org/
- British National Formulary, dental section on medical emergencies, to be checked by the Practice through its current BNF access route
5. Scope
This policy applies to:
- all patients, visitors, staff and contractors on Practice premises
- all clinical and non-clinical staff
- emergency preparation in surgeries, waiting areas, reception and decontamination areas
- emergencies during NHS and private dental care
- emergencies during sedation where the Practice offers sedation
Before adoption, the Practice records the exact emergency-kit and AED locations, role allocation for each shift, 999 calling method, ambulance entrance and access instructions, staff who meet and guide the crew, local handover route and any sedation-specific emergency plan. The map is tested during simulation and updated after premises, staffing or service changes.
6. Roles and responsibilities
- Registered Manager: ensures suitable emergency medicines, equipment, staffing, checks, training, simulation and governance review are in place.
- Clinical lead: verifies the current clinical sources, approves the local emergency plan and reviews clinical response, competence and post-event learning.
- First responder: starts the trained emergency response, directs immediate care and confirms when 999 is required.
- Emergency coordinator: allocates tasks, clears the area and maintains oversight until handover. In a small team this may be the first responder where it is safe to combine roles.
- 999 caller and entrance guide: gives the correct address and clinical summary, stays available to the call handler, then meets and directs the ambulance crew.
- Equipment or medicine runner: brings the emergency kit and AED, checks seals or status, and reports what is available.
- Event recorder: records times, observations, medicines, equipment use, advice and handover details contemporaneously where staffing allows.
- All staff: know the role allocated to them, summon help promptly, work within competence and attend simulation.
7. Emergency drugs
The Practice keeps emergency drugs appropriate to its service and verifies the list against the current BNF dental section and Resuscitation Council UK guidance before adoption.
The Verivius default check list covers readiness for:
- anaphylaxis
- hypoglycaemia
- asthma
- angina or suspected cardiac chest pain
- seizure
- opioid reversal where IV sedation is offered and the Practice's sedation protocol requires it
The Practice records:
- drug name
- strength and formulation
- quantity held
- expiry date
- storage location
- weekly check outcome
- replacement action
Emergency drugs are stored so they are accessible in an emergency and secure under the Practice medicines policy.
8. Emergency equipment
The Practice keeps emergency equipment appropriate to primary dental care and verifies the list against the current Resuscitation Council UK equipment list before adoption.
The Verivius default check list includes:
- automated external defibrillator
- oxygen cylinder and delivery equipment
- bag-valve-mask equipment
- pocket mask
- suction equipment
- oropharyngeal airways
- oxygen masks with reservoir
- sphygmomanometer or other approved blood-pressure equipment
- pulse oximeter where included in the Practice's local process
- scissors, razors and spare AED pads
- personal protective equipment
The Practice records weekly checks, servicing, expiry dates and replacement action.
9. Basic life support competence
All staff understand their role in a medical emergency.
- Clinical staff maintain basic life support competence appropriate to their role.
- Non-clinical staff know how to summon help, identify the emergency kit location and support the clinical team.
- Staff who may use the AED, oxygen or airway equipment receive role-appropriate training.
- New staff complete induction before working unsupervised.
- The Practice records training and refreshers in the staff training matrix.
The Practice checks the exact training cadence against current GDC, Resuscitation Council UK and commissioning expectations before adoption.
10. Simulation and scenario practice
The Practice carries out medical-emergency simulation. Verivius defaults are:
- at least annual whole-team simulation
- additional simulation after a serious event
- additional simulation after major staff, layout or equipment change
- scenarios covering collapse, anaphylaxis, hypoglycaemia, asthma, chest pain and seizure over the review cycle
Each simulation record includes:
- date
- scenario
- staff present
- learning points
- equipment or process issues
- actions assigned
- date for action review
11. Incident escalation pathway
When a medical emergency occurs, staff:
- stop treatment and make the area safe
- call for immediate help inside the Practice
- assess the patient according to training
- call 999 where emergency transfer or ambulance support is needed
- use emergency equipment and drugs only within role and competence
- keep a staff member with the patient until handover
- document the event and treatment given
- inform the Registered Manager as soon as practicable
- record the event in the Practice incident register
- assess statutory notification, duty of candour and safeguarding implications
The Practice does not use this policy as a clinical treatment algorithm. Staff follow current clinical training and emergency guidance.
12. Transfer and handover
Where the patient transfers to ambulance or hospital care, the Practice provides:
- patient details
- relevant medical history
- treatment being provided when the emergency happened
- observations recorded
- drugs administered
- time of each action where known
- allergies and current medication where known
- contact details for follow-up
The Practice records who received the handover.
13. Post-event debrief and record
After every medical emergency, the Registered Manager or clinical lead arranges a debrief.
The debrief covers:
- what happened
- what went well
- what did not work
- equipment availability
- communication
- training needs
- whether the incident record is complete
- whether an improvement action is needed
The debrief record is stored with the incident record. Any action is tracked to completion.
14. Audit
The Practice audits:
- weekly emergency drug and equipment checks
- staff training records
- simulation records
- incident records
- action completion after medical emergencies
Review cadence: annual or on regulatory change, whichever sooner. Owner: Registered Manager.
15. Related policies and tools
- Medical Emergencies and Deteriorating Patient Policy
- Emergency Medicines and Equipment Checking Policy
- Incident Reporting, Investigation and Learning Policy
- Medicines Management Policy
- Duty of Candour Policy
- Dental compliance guide
16. Sources and further reading
This template is based on CQC's guidance for providers and managers, the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, and other topic-specific legislation and guidance listed below. It is a starting point for adaptation, not a substitute for legal, clinical, HR, safeguarding or specialist professional advice.
- CQC Regulation 12: Safe care and treatment
- CQC Regulation 18: Staffing
- Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/2936/regulation/12)
- Resuscitation Council UK (primary dental care quality standards and equipment list)
- GDC Standards for the Dental Team
- Emergency medicines and equipment guidance (current BNF dental section; MHRA alerts; manufacturer servicing guidance)
17. When to seek further advice
Seek specialist advice where the issue involves serious harm, safeguarding, deprivation of liberty, restraint, children, professional misconduct, controlled drugs, radiation, termination of pregnancy, infection outbreak, water safety, employment dismissal, DBS barring referral, or regulatory enforcement.
18. Document control
| Version | Date | Author | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| v1 | 2026-06-10 | Verivius (sample) | Conformed to the Verivius policy standard: added statutory anchor, verbatim Regulation 12 quotes, plain-English summary, sources and document control. Original operational sections preserved. |
| v1.1 | 2026-07-19 | Verivius (sample) | Added the local emergency role and access map, named response responsibilities and links to the supporting emergency, medicines, incident and duty-of-candour policies. |
This sample policy template was issued by Verivius. It is a template, not a substitute for legal advice or the provider's own policy-development process. Where this template and live law or regulator guidance diverge, the live source wins.