We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 14 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

Burnham Market Dental Practice is a single handed practice and provides private dental treatment to patients of all ages. The dentist employs a hygienist, and two dental nurses. One nurse is the practice manager and both nurses cover the reception duties.

The principal 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.

The two storey practice is located in the town centre and accessible to wheelchair users. The practice has two treatment rooms, a reception area, a room where dental care records were stored and a waiting room on the ground floor. There is a patient and a staff toilet; these are not accessible for disabled patients. There is a further treatment room, a waiting room, and a decontamination room for cleaning, sterilising, and packing dental instruments located on the first floor. On street parking is available outside and nearby the practice.

We received feedback from 49 patients during the inspection process. We received positive comments about the cleanliness of the premises, the empathy and responsiveness of staff, and the quality of treatment provided. Patients told us that staff explained treatment plans to them well. Patients reported that the practice had seen them on the same day for emergency treatment.

Our key findings were:

• Staff had received safeguarding training and knew the processes to follow to raise any concerns.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were readily available and accessible.
• Infection control procedures were in place and staff had access to personal protective equipment.
• Patients’ care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines and current legislation.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment and its costs, benefits, and risks and were involved in making decisions about them.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and their confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients and waiting times were kept to a minimum.
• The practice staff felt involved in the running of the practice and worked as a team.
• Robust systems, and risk assessments, were in place to give oversight and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Regular audits were performed to manage performance, identify risks, mitigate, and drive improvements.

People told us they were very happy with the services provided by Burnham Market Dental Surgery. We examined evidence which demonstrated to us that before people received any care or treatment, they were asked for their consent. We saw that detailed plans of care were provided to people to help them make their own informed decisions about the treatment they would require. People were informed of the risks and benefits of each treatment option suggested.

We saw that people were involved in the planning of their own treatment at the surgery and that people were consulted about the treatment options available to them.

We saw that there were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection at the surgery.

Staff were suitably trained to be able to offer appropriate care and support to people using services at Burnham Market Dental Surgery.

There were systems in place for people to make a complaint about services offered by the surgery, and for them to be assured that their views and opinions would be taken seriously and investigated appropriately.