We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 9 November 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

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

Aughton Dental Practice is located in the village of Aughton and provides a range of dental treatments, including implants, crowns, dentures and tooth whitening. The practice has been a member of the British Dental Association Good Practice Scheme for ten years and attained the Silver Award in 2013.

The surgery and facilities are all on the ground floor and includes four surgeries a reception and waiting area. The premises has been adapted to accommodate wheelchair users, including access to the premises, toilet facilities, widened corridors, a lowered reception desk and a special chair that enables treatment to be carried out in a more upright position. There are two parking spaces to the front of the surgery with additional parking available about 100 metres away.

The practice is open 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday and opens later until 7.00pm each Wednesday.

The practice is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as a partnership. Like registered providers, the partners are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

Our key findings were

• Patients were pleased with the care and treatment they received at the practice.
• Feedback from patients highlighted the practice supported patients to make decisions based on the treatment options available.
• Staff demonstrated a patient-centred approach in the way they worked and showed commitment to providing a quality service to their patients.
• Well organised governance arrangements were in place at the practice.
• Staff said they were well supported and the team worked well together.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• The practice had systems and resources in place to assess and manage risks to patients and staff including, infection prevention and control, health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).
• The practice was exceptionally clean, clutter-free and well maintained.
• Patient's needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with current professional guidelines.
• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and were supported in their continued professional development (CPD).
• A policy and process was in place for managing complaints.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• In relation to the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance, review the arrangements for the use and storage of environmental cleaning equipment. In addition, review the arrangements for

  infection control audits to ensure they are undertaken bi-annually.

• Review the practice's process to ensure X-ray equipment is regularly serviced.

• Review the protocol for completing accurate, complete and detailed records relating to employment of staff. This includes making appropriate notes of verbal reference taken and ensuring recruitment checks, including references, are suitably obtained and recorded.
• Review the availability of an interpreter service for patients who do not speak English as their first language.