We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 7 March 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

The practice provides a range of NHS and private dental services for patients in and around the Accrington area.

The dental practice is based on the first floor of 1 Avenue Parade. There is a waiting room, separate reception and two treatment rooms. A decontamination room is based on the 2nd floor with a staff room and further storage facilities.

The practice has one full time dentist supported by two dental nurses and a receptionist.

The practice is open Monday and Thursday 09:00 am to 5.30pm and Friday 9am to 3pm.

The dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. Like registered providers, they 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.

Before the inspection we sent Care Quality Commission comment cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice. We received feedback from 17 patients who all gave positive comments about the care and treatment they received at the practice.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had systems to assess and manage risks to patients, including infection prevention and control, health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.
• Premises were well maintained and a tour of the building confirmed that good cleaning and infection control systems were in place.
• There was appropriate equipment and access to emergency drugs to enable the practice to respond to medical emergencies. This included an automated external defibrillator. Staff had been trained to manage medical emergencies.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• Information about how to complain was available and easy to understand.
• The dental practice had effective clinical governance and risk management structures in place.
• There were systems to monitor and continually improve the quality of the service; including through a programme of clinical and non-clinical audits.

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

• Review Staff recruitment processes to ensure all information is available prior to recruitment.

People told us they were happy with the care and treatment they received and commented that they were treated well by the staff and dentists at the practice. People told us they were able to express their views and opinions and could influence the way their treatment was delivered. Comments made through a patient questionnaire stated, "They make you feel at ease" and "They are always accommodating".

During our visit we saw a range of patient information leaflets situated in the waiting room. We saw a system in place to monitor people's 'satisfaction' with the service. We looked at five completed patient satisfaction surveys. Comments made confirmed that people's views and opinions had been considered and used to make changes and improvements to the way the practice was run. Two people spoken with told us that the staff treated them in a kind, professional, friendly and respectful manner. One person commented, "The staff are brilliant, I wouldn't have any one else". They confirmed that all consultations took place in private rooms.