We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 15 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

Oasis Dental Practice is situated in Askern, Doncaster. The practice offers NHS and private dental treatments.

The practice comprises of four first floor dental treatment rooms, a decontamination room, a waiting and reception area with practice manager office, staff kitchen area, staff and patient toilets.

There are three full time dentists, a full time dental hygiene therapist, a practice manager and a practice co-ordinator, four dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse, two receptionists and a domestic cleaner. The regional health and safety compliance co-ordinator was also present for the inspection.

The practice is open between 8:00am and 8:00pm Monday to Friday, Saturday 9:00am – 1:00pm. opening hours vary throughout the week.

The practice manager is the registered manager. 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.

On the day of inspection we received 22 CQC comment cards providing feedback. Patients who provided feedback were very positive about the care and attention to treatment they received at the practice. Comments included that patients felt they were involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be very pleasant and helpful, the practice had a happy environment; staff were friendly and communicated well. Patients commented they could access emergency care easily and they were treated with dignity and respect in a clean and tidy environment.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had systems 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.
• The practice was visibly clean and uncluttered.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report it. They had systems in place to work closely and share information with the local safeguarding team.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Infection control procedures were in accordance with the published guidelines.
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).
• Treatment was well planned and provided in line with current best practice guidelines.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice was well-led and staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The governance systems were effective and embedded.
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided.
• There were clearly defined leadership roles within the practice and staff felt supported at all levels.

People’s privacy, dignity and independence were respected. People’s views and experiences were taken into account in the way the service was provided and delivered in relation to their care. One patient told us "I always know what’s happening with my treatment,” another person told us "the dentists and staff are very professional."

People experienced care, treatment and support that met their needs and protected their rights. All the patients we spoke with told us they were happy with the treatment that they received. One patient said, "I get a good level of service here." Another person said “I get professional treatment and service.”

People were cared for in a clean, hygienic environment. There were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. We saw that surgeries were clean and well maintained and staff told us that specific cleaning routines were in place to maintain hygiene standards.

People were cared for, or supported by, suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff. Appropriate checks were undertaken before staff began work at the practice.

The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people received. People who used the service and staff were asked for their views about care and treatment and if those views were acted on. We saw the analysis of this feedback. Very positive feedback had been recorded.