A dentist has been struck off for treating patients without proper insurance.

Holger Held, who practised at the Netherwood Dental Surgery in Preston New Road, Blackburn was found to have been working without indemnity cover.

It comes as the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published a damning report of the surgery highlighting concerns that patients were not treated with proper care. Mr Held was accused of practising without indemnity between May 31 and July 11 2013 but did not attend the hearing.

In considering the case, the General Dental Council’s (GDC) professional conduct committee said: “In treating patients whilst not indemnified, Mr Held acted contrary to the requirements of the Dentists Act and in breach of the standards.

“He placed patients in the position of potentially being unable to claim compensation to which they could have been entitled had they suffered harm or damage during that period of treatment. Mr Held showed a disregard for the interests of patients.”

The CQC carried out an unannounced inspection after concerns were raised that ‘one or more of the essential standards of quality and safety were not being met’ at the surgery.

The report said: “Care and treatment was not planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people’s safety and welfare. People were not protected from the risk of infection because appropriate guidance had been followed.

“We looked around three of the practice treatment rooms and found that in one there was a layer of dust in the sink. A member of staff could offer no explanation. In the same room, we saw reusable instruments left exposed on a tray.

“The Department of Health recommends that each practice has a lead person for infection control; we were told that nobody had been identified as such. We asked the dentist to show us infection control audits but he was unable to do so.”

Mr Held was punished by his governing body previously over his treatment of two patients between 2008 and 2010.