We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 14 December 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

Oasis Dental Care Southern Towcester is a general dental practice located in the centre of Towcester offering NHS and private dental treatment to adults and children.

The premises consist of a waiting room, treatment room, and decontamination room on the ground floor. There are three further treatment rooms on the first floor, and a staff room and office on the second floor.

The practice is open from Monday to Friday, and Saturday mornings weekly.

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.

13 people provided feedback about the service. We looked at comment cards patients had completed prior to the inspection and we also spoke with patients on the day of the inspection. Overall patients were positive about their experience and they commented that the staff were always friendly and kind.

Our key findings were:

• There were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. We found the treatment rooms and equipment were visibly clean.

• We observed staff were kind, caring and welcoming which put nervous patients at their ease.

• Robust governance systems were in place to ensure the smooth running of the practice, including tracking of required training for practice staff and regular maintenance of essential equipment.

• The practice regularly undertook clinical audit for the improvement of the service, however these were not always as detailed as they could be.

• Staff were all up to date with the recommended training by the General Dental Council, including cross infection control, radiography, safeguarding vulnerable adults, child protection, medical emergencies and equality and diversity.

• Staff recruitment checks had been carried out in accordance with schedule three of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. Disclosure and barring service checks had been carried out on all staff to ensure the practice employed fit and proper persons.

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

• Review availability of medicines to manage medical emergencies giving due regard to guidelines issued by the British National Formulary (BNF).

• Review audit protocols and consider altering the format in order to achieve the maximum learning opportunities from the audit process.

• Review the legal requirements regarding who can consent on behalf of a minor.

• Review procedures for urgent referral of suspicious oral conditions to hospital.

We were unable to speak to people who use the service on the day of our visit, however we looked at comments and feedback left by people which stated they were happy with the service provided. One person commented that they felt the staff were kind and comforting. We saw patient surveys which all indicated people were very happy with the service.