We carried out this announced inspection on 22 June 2017 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector with remote access to a specialist dental adviser.

We told the NHS England Cheshire and Merseyside area team that we were inspecting the practice. We did not receive any information of concern from them.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment we always ask the following five questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it caring?

• Is it responsive to people’s needs?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

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

Cromer House Dental Practice is close to the centre of Huyton and provides treatment to patients of all ages on an NHS and privately funded basis.

The provider has had a ramp installed to facilitate access to the practice for wheelchair users. Car parking is available outside the practice for patients with disabilities or mobility difficulties.

The dental team includes five dentists, seven dental nurses and one receptionist. The practice has four treatment rooms. The team is supported by two practice managers.

The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have in place a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers have a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run. The registered manager at Cromer House Dental Practice is the principal dentist.

We received feedback from 49 people during the inspection about the services provided. The feedback provided was positive about the practice.

During the inspection we spoke to three dentists, dental nurses and the practice managers. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Thursday 9.00am to 5.00pm

Friday 8.00am to 5.00pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures in place which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Two items of the recommended medical emergency equipment were not available but the provider ordered these immediately.
• The practice had systems in place to help them manage risk.
• The practice had safeguarding processes in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had staff recruitment procedures in place.
• Staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• The practice had a procedure in place for dealing with complaints.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.

• The appointment system took patients’ needs into account. Dedicated emergency appointments were available.

• The practice had a leadership structure. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice asked patients and staff for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice did not have procedures in place for reporting and learning from significant events. The provider assured us this would be addressed.

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

• Review the practice’s system for the recording, investigating and reviewing of incidents and significant events with a view to preventing further occurrences and ensuring that improvements are made.