We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 5 January 2017 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

Cripps Dental Centre is located in ground floor premises situated on the university campus in Nottingham. There are seven treatment rooms. The practice provides a mixture of private and NHS treatment (a 50/50 split). There is free car parking for one hour for dental patients outside the practice.

The practice provides regulated dental services to both adults and children. Services provided include general dentistry, dental hygiene, crowns and bridges, and root canal treatment.

The practice’s opening hours are – Monday: 8 am to 7:30 pm; Tuesday to Thursday: 8 am to 5:30 pm; Friday 8am to 4:30 pm.

Access for urgent treatment outside of opening hours is by telephoning the practice and following the instructions on the answerphone message. Alternatively patients can telephone the NHS 111 telephone number.

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 practice has seven dentists; one part time orthodontist; two hygienists; nine qualified dental nurses; four trainee dental nurses; a reception team; an administration team and one practice manager.

During the inspection the practice gave out CQC comments cards for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice and during the inspection we spoke with patients. We received responses from 17 patients through both comment cards and by speaking with them during the inspection. Those patients provided positive feedback about the services the practice provides.

Our key findings were:

• The premises were visibly clean and there were systems and processes in place to maintain the cleanliness.
• The systems to record accidents, significant events and complaints, learning points from these were recorded and used to make improvements.
• Staff had been trained to recognise and report on safeguarding issues relating to children and vulnerable adults.
• Records showed there were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• There were effective systems at the practice related to the Control of Substance Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002.
• Patients said they had no problem getting an appointment that suited their needs.
• Patients were able to access emergency treatment when they were in pain.
• Patients provided positive feedback about their experiences at the practice. Patients said they were treated with dignity and respect.
• Patients’ confidentiality was protected within the practice.
• The records showed that apologies had been given for any concerns or upset that patients had experienced at the practice.
• 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 about a colleague’s practice.
• 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.

We asked to speak with people who had attended an appointment during our inspection of the practice. We spoke with four people and asked them for their views about the practice and the service they received. People’s comments included: “Very friendly, they took a complete medical history when I registered at the practice today." “In general very good.”

We found by speaking and observing staff that there were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. We reviewed the infection prevention and decontamination records and policies and found them to be up to date.

We found by speaking with staff and reviewing records that the dentists and dental nurses regularly accessed training and staff records included a certificate detailing their current registration with the General Dental Council.

The provider had an effective quality assurance system, which included seeking the views of people registered at the practice. Systems were in place, which checked the maintenance of equipment along with health and safety audits, which the provider used to develop the service and promote the health, safety and welfare of people using the service and its staff.