We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 26 August 2015 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 this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

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

Are services caring?

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

Are services responsive?

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

Are services well-led?

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

Background

Bearcross Dental Practice provides a range of treatments, and sees mainly NHS patients. There are four dentists, two part-time hygienists and six dental nurses working at the practice. The practice manager is the registered manager, the owner and a dentist. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

The practice is in a converted residential property. All of the treatment rooms are on the ground floor and are easily accessed by wheelchair users.

During our inspection we spoke with five patients and reviewed 43 comments cards, which patients had completed in the two weeks prior to our visit. All patients commented positively about the care and treatment they received at the practice.

Our key findings were:

• We found all treatment rooms well planned and equipped, with good light and ventilation.
• There were systems in place to check all equipment had been serviced regularly, including the air compressor, autoclave, fire extinguishers, oxygen cylinder and the X-ray equipment.
• Patients care and treatment was assessed, planned and delivered according to their individual needs.
• The practice was sensitive to the needs of their patients and treated them with dignity and respect and the patient satisfaction survey indicated they were happy with their care and treatment.
• The practice had systems in place for the management of infection control, clinical waste segregation and disposal, management of medical emergencies and dental radiography
• Staff had regular appraisals and were supported to complete training for their continuous professional development.

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

• Complete checks as recommended by the risk assessment for the management of legionella carried out in June 2014.

Staff should be trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults and vulnerable adults should be included in the providers safeguarding policy.

We spoke to four patients, all of whom were very complimentary about the practice. They felt that they were treated with respect and dignity. They told us that they were informed about the choices, costs, alternatives and possible outcomes of their treatment. One patient told us "They are fantastic -- couldn't be better" and another said "I have a terrible fear of dentists -- they are very considerate". The other two patients were equally complimentary.

We saw from the patient satisfaction survey questionnaires that we looked at that patients were in general very happy. One comment stated "The service is fantastic. This is one of the best dentists I have ever used", and another in describing why they like the practice "I find the dental practice very well run at all times". Other comments said "Excellent dental practice" and "Fantastic"

The practice was friendly, welcoming and informative. We saw that patients were listened to in all areas of the practice. The surgery was clean throughout and there was evidence of a well-supported staff.

We found that all patients were given sufficient information to give an informed consent, and the staff were well trained and caring. The practice was well led by the practice owner and the staff were observed to be well organised.