Pat Langley shares the key points raised in a recent course covering compliance pitfalls that squat practices struggle with when starting out.
Compliance is not what inspires most dentists to open their own practice. However, for the group of squat practice owners attending Bobby Bhandal’s ‘Build your dream dental practice! Squat success’ course, a session with compliance guru Dr Pat Langley brought the issue to centre stage: mastering regulation is a central challenge for anyone starting out.
Pat – a registered dentist, founder of Apolline and now Clinical Director at FMC and Dentistry Compliance – has supported countless practices through the regulatory maze. Her approach is candid and pragmatic, grounded in decades of seeing what really works – and what can quietly trip up even the most motivated new practice teams.
Where most squat practices struggle
What stood out most during the session was how many owners feel overwhelmed by what is expected, particularly in the early days. ‘Does everyone find this overwhelming?’ one attendee asked – a question that resonated around the room. Pat was quick to reassure: you are not alone, and the landscape is getting more complex for everyone.
‘Policies need to reflect the way you actually work. Do not copy and paste – make it meaningful and make sure your whole team is involved’
Pat Langley
A recurring theme was the importance of understanding that compliance should not just be a ‘tick-box’ exercise. It is not about amassing paperwork for its own sake. Pat stressed: ‘Policies need to reflect the way you will actually be working in your new practice. Do not copy and paste – make it meaningful and make sure your team is involved.’ She highlighted how generic documents are always scrutinised by inspectors. Instead, focus on real-world policies and risk assessments that fit your unique practice.
Emerging pressures: more than just the basics
Attendees were especially interested in how compliance now covers broader areas – environmental impact, staff wellbeing, equality and patient inclusion. Pat noted that CQC inspections increasingly include questions on how you support vulnerable groups and whether you are working to reduce your practice’s environmental footprint.
‘It is a lot to balance,’ she acknowledged. ‘But it is also an opportunity to build a culture that is truly patient-centred.’
She also touched on practical pitfalls: missing or outdated DBS checks, audits done as a ‘tick-box’ exercise and evidence gaps around infection control or recruitment. Her advice? Make audits and risk assessments meaningful, use them to drive improvement, and build systems that help you keep up to date – before things become urgent.
Turning insight into action
Pat’s session ended with a message of encouragement: compliance is challenging, but it can be managed. Early support, robust systems and a culture of continuous improvement make all the difference. For those wanting a smarter way to stay on top of it all, digital compliance tools – such as those offered by Dentistry Compliance – can automate reminders, organise documents and help turn compliance from a headache into an everyday habit.
With the right mindset and support, compliance does not need to be chaos. It can be the foundation for a thriving, patient-focused practice.
Find out more about Dentistry Compliance or book a free demo here.
This article is sponsored by Dentistry Compliance.
