We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this service on 19 October 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 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

Bredbury Dental Practice is located on George Lane a residential area of Bredbury Stockport. There are public transport links close by. There is a small car park on site and on road parking outside the practice.

There are four treatment rooms which are located on the ground and first floors. The reception and waiting room are located on the ground floor. A dedicated decontamination room was located on the first floor.

There are five dentists working at the practice and they are supported by five dental nurses and three trainee dental nurses. In addition there is a receptionist and a practice manager.

The practice provides primary dental services to predominantly (99.9%) NHS patients with a very small amount (0.1%) of private patients.

The practice is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8am until 7pm, Tuesday from 8am until 5.30pm and Friday from 8am until 5pm. In the event of a patient requiring emergency treatment when the practice is closed they are advised to contact the NHS out of hour’s service. The emergency telephone number is in the patient leaflet, on the website and on the practice answer machine.

The practice manager is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission(CQC) 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.

We received feedback from five patients who completed CQC comment cards and we spoke with seven patients who were attending the practice for an appointment. Patients’ spoke highly about the staff and told us staff were respectful and caring.

Our key findings were:

• Staff were clear about their role and responsibility to safeguarding children and adults. There were good safeguarding procedures in place that gave detailed information about local authority and NHS safeguarding teams and support groups.

• Equipment, such as the air compressor, autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, oxygen cylinder and X-ray equipment had all been regularly serviced.

• Staff recruitment records contained the required documents and checks.

• Patients were provided with sufficient information about their treatment options to enable them to make informed decisions.

• The practice kept detailed dental care records that showed on-going monitoring of patients’ oral health.

• New patients were asked to complete a medical history form that included information about allergies, general health and any medications they were taking. This was checked verbally at each consultation.

• Patients were provided with information and guidance relating to good oral health such as smoking cessation and healthy diet.

• Staff had been trained to handle medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were readily available.

• Staff were supported to maintain their continuing professional development (CPD) and had undertaken training appropriate to their roles.

• The practice had clear procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.

• The practice kept up to date with current guidelines and was led by a proactive management team.

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

• Review the decontamination process to ensure all instruments are clean and free from contaminants before being pouched.

Patients told us that they were offered a choice of appointments that suited them and their lifestyles. They said that the choice and flexibility of appointments offered was very good.

Patients told us that reception staff were very helpful and always courteous.

Some of the patients spoken to told us they had accessed emergency appointments. We were told that appointments were either given for the same day but always within two days depending of the severity of the problem.

Patients told us that treatment options were always discussed with them prior to any treatment taking place.

Patients spoken to confirmed that medical histories were taken and any changes were reviewed at the beginning of each appointment.

None of the patients we spoke with said they had ever had to make a complaint. We were told that they were completely satisfied with the care and treatment provided at the practice.

Patients told us that they were always given protective equipment for example glasses and aprons on each visit to the practice.

Patients told us that the dentists always wore gloves and face masks when treating them.

Patients told us that the surgery was always clean and tidy.

All the patients spoken to told us they felt safe and trusted the advice of the dentist.