We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 31 May 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

Churchview Dental Practice is a dental practice providing mostly NHS dental treatment. The practice is located in premises close to the centre of Eastwood in Nottinghamshire. There is a small car park available to the rear of the practice; otherwise there is roadside parking in the area. There are two designated disable car parking spaces on the road directly outside the practice. The practice has three treatment rooms, all three of which are on the ground floor.

The practice was first registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in August 2013. The practice provides regulated dental services to both adults and children. The practice provides mostly NHS treatment (95%). Services provided include general dentistry, dental hygiene, crowns and bridges, and root canal treatment.

The practice’s opening hours are – Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 8:00am to 5pm; Wednesday: 9am to 6pm; Friday: 8:00am to 1:00pm. The practice is open on Saturdays by prior arrangement. The practice is closed for lunch between 1pm and 2pm.

Access for urgent treatment outside of opening hours is by telephoning the practice and following the instructions on the answerphone message or by telephoning the 111 NHS service.

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.

The practice has three dentists; one dental hygienist; six qualified dental nurses who also work on the reception desk and a practice manager.

We received positive feedback from 46 patients about the services provided. This was through CQC comment cards left at the practice prior to the inspection and by speaking with patients in the practice.

Our key findings were:

• Patients at the practice and through CQC comment cards provided positive feedback about their experiences at the practice. Patients said they were treated with dignity and respect.
• The practice was well equipped and provided a relaxed atmosphere for patients. With particular emphasis on making children feel relaxed and welcome.
• Dentists identified the different treatment options, and discussed these with patients.
• Patients’ confidentiality was maintained.
• The practice was visibly clean and tidy.
• The practice followed the relevant guidance from the Department of Health's: ‘Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM 01-05) for infection control with regard to cleaning and sterilizing dental instruments.
• There was a whistleblowing policy accessible to all staff, who were aware of procedures to follow if they had any concerns.
• Records showed there were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• The practice had the necessary equipment for staff to deal with medical emergencies, and staff had been trained how to use that equipment. This included an automated external defibrillator, oxygen and emergency medicines.