We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 26 August 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

Chalkwell Dental Practice is situated in a purpose converted building in Leigh on Sea, Essex.

The practice has four treatment rooms and a combined patient waiting and reception area. Decontamination takes place in a dedicated decontamination room (Decontamination is the process by which dirty and contaminated instruments are bought from the treatment room, washed, inspected, sterilised and sealed in pouches ready for use again).

The practice is registered as an individual. 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.

Four dentists, four dental nurses, four hygienists, a practice manager, practice administrator and two receptionists are employed at the practice.

The practice offers NHS and private general and cosmetic dental treatments to adults and children The opening hours of the practice are 8.30am to 5.45pm on Mondays to Thursdays and 8.30am to 5pm on Fridays. The practice is open between 9am and 1pm on the last Saturday of each month for private treatments only.

We left comment cards at the practice for the two weeks preceding the inspection. 48 people provided feedback about the service in this way. All of the comments made indicated that patients were very happy with the dental care and treatment that they received and the care and compassion shown by the dentists and dental nurses.

Our key findings were:

·        

There was an effective complaints system and learning from complaints, accidents and other incidents was used to make improvements where this was required.

·        

The practice was visibly clean and clutter free and Infection control practices met national guidance.

·        

There were a number of systems in place to help keep people safe, including safeguarding vulnerable children and adults.

·        

Dental care and treatments were carried out in line with current legislation and guidelines. However patient records were not maintained to fully reflect advice given or that patients’ medical histories were kept under review.

·        

Patients reported that they were received excellent dental care and staff were understanding, polite and helpful.

·        

Patients were involved in making decisions about their care and treatments.

·        

The practice provided a flexible appointments system and could normally arrange a routine appointment within a few days or emergency appointments mostly on the same day.

·        

The practice kept medicines and equipment for use in medical emergencies. However these were not checked robustly and some medicines and equipment were expired or stored incorrectly.

·        

There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was well maintained.

·        

Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the service. However these did not include consistent systems for monitoring areas such as the quality of patient records, X-rays or staff training.

·        

Patient’s views were sought and used to make improvements to the service where these were identified.

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

·       

Review the procedures for carrying out root canal treatments taking into account the use of a rubber dam in line with

guidance issued by the British Endodontic Society

.

·       

Review the arrangements for dealing with medical emergencies so that all of the required medicines and equipment are checked, in date and stored appropriately.

·       

Review the arrangements for monitoring the use of prescription pads to minimise the risk of misuse.

·       

Review the arrangements for monitoring the quality of X-ray images in line with the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) guidelines.

·       

Review the arrangements for monitoring record keeping in line with

Royal College of Surgeons Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP) guidance

and carry out the recommended record keeping audits.

·       

Review the systems for monitoring and recording staff training.

We spoke with two people who were using the service at the time of our inspection. They were very pleased with the service they received at the practice. One person had been a patient there for 22 years and the other said they had transferred to this practice when his dentist went to work there because he was so satisfied with the service he received from them.

Both people said that they did not have to wait long to be seen and could always get an appointment. They said that treatments and choices were always given and explained by the dentists. One person said that they were very impressed with the hygienist.