We carried out this announced inspection on 5 September 2017 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. A CQC inspector, who was supported by a specialist dental adviser, led the inspection.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it caring?

• Is it responsive to people’s needs?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

A W Brown Dental Practice is a well-established practice based in Felixstowe. It provides both private and NHS dentistry to patients of all ages. The dental team consists of four dentists, two hygienists, seven dental nurses and a practice manager, who between them support approximately 8000 patients. A specialist visits one a month to provide dental implants. The practice has six treatment rooms and is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursday from 8am to 5.30pm and on Tuesdays and Fridays from 8.30am to 5.30pm.

There is access for wheelchair users at the rear of the building.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

During the inspection, we spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses and the practice manager. We looked at the practice’s policies and procedures, and other records about how the service was managed. We collected 47 comment cards filled in by patients prior to our inspection and spoke with another three.

Our key findings were:

• We received many very positive comments from patients about the dental care they received and the staff who delivered it.

• The practice was clean and well maintained, and had infection control procedures that reflected published guidance.

• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies, although not all recommended life-saving equipment was available.

• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with current best practice guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and other published guidance.

• Members of the dental team were up-to-date with their continuing professional development and were supported to meet the requirements of their professional registration.

• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported and valued by the practice manager and owner. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should

• Review the practice’s protocols for the use of rubber dams for root canal treatment taking into account guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society.