We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 29 February 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

Dash Dental Care provides a wide range of private dental treatments for people of all ages. Treatments include routine dentistry, preventative care, conscious sedation and dentures, hygienist service, cosmetic dentistry and tooth whitening. One of the dentists specialises in fitting dental implants. The practice is located in Northenden, there are four treatment rooms situated over the ground and first floors. The practice specialises in treating nervous patients.

The practice has two dentists who are business partners (the providers) they are supported by three part time dental hygienist/therapists, dental nurses who also cover reception and a practice manager.

The opening times were Monday and Tuesday 8.45am to 5pm, Wednesday and Thursday 8.30am to 5pm and Friday 8am to 4pm.

One of the providers 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.

Four patients provided feedback about the service. Patients were complimentary about the

friendliness and professionalism of staff, the care and treatment they received and the standards of cleanliness at the practice.

Our key findings were:

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

• The practice had access to an automated external defibrillator and medical oxygen available on the premises.

• The provider had emergency medicines in line with the British National Formulary (BNF) guidance for medical emergencies in dental practice.

• The practice carried out oral health assessments and planned treatment in line with current best practice guidance, for example from the Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP). Patient dental care records were detailed and showed on-going monitoring of patients’ oral health.

• Staff recruitment records contained the required documents and checks.

• Patients were provided with sufficient information about their treatment options to enable them to make informed decisions.

• The practice kept detailed dental care records that showed ongoing monitoring of patients’ oral health.

• New patients were asked to complete a medical history form that included information about allergies, general health and any medications they were taking. This was checked verbally at each consultation.

• The practice was well-led and staff felt involved and worked as a team.

• Governance systems were effective and there was a range of clinical and non-clinical audits to monitor the quality of services.

• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided.

We spoke with a number of people who used this dentist. People told us that the surgery was “always a welcoming environment” and they “couldn’t fault it.” People also said: “I’ve nothing but praise” and “My [relative] used to be anxious about the dentist, but now [they come] here on [their] own.” People also told us that staff asked for their consent before providing any treatments. They said: “I was informed all the time about the next procedure”; “I was given written information as well”; and “They always explain it to me.”

We looked at dental care records and saw that people’s needs were assessed and care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with their individual care plan. We observed that the surgery was clean and hygienic and saw that the provider took steps to follow best practice in decontamination of instruments. We saw that the provider supported staff and provided opportunities for their professional development.