We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 13 March 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

David Boff Griffin Dental Practice is located in Hull and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children. The services include preventative advice and treatment and routine restorative dental care.

The dental team is comprised of three dentists, four dental nurses (one of which is a trainee) and a practice manager.

The practice has three surgeries all located on the first floor, a staff room/kitchen and a general office.

On the day of inspection we received 25 CQC comment cards providing positive feedback. The patients who provided feedback were very positive about the care and attention to treatment they received at the practice. They told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be very caring and communicated well; staff were friendly and accommodating. Patients commented they could access emergency care easily and they were treated with dignity and respect in a clean and tidy environment.

The practice is open:

Monday – Thursday 8am – 5pm

Friday 8am – 4pm.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual registered person. 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.

Our key findings were:

• Infection control procedures were effective and the practice followed published guidance.
• Staff had been trained to handle emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were readily available in accordance with current guidelines.
• The practice had systems in place manage risks.
• Staff understood and received safeguarding training and knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report it.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Effective recruitment processes of staff were in place.
• Treatment was well planned and provided in line with current guidelines.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The service was aware of the needs of the local population and took these into account in how the practice was run
• The practice was well-led and staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided.
• Complaints were responded to in an efficient and responsive manner.

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

• Review and implement a system for prescription pads to monitor and track their use.
• Review the practice risk assessments including implementing COSHH and practice specific risk assessments.
• Review the use of latex within the practice and implement a policy for its safe use.
• Review the practice has a plan in place to meet best practice recommendations in line with HTM 01-05.
• Review the practice audit protocols to document learning points so they can be shared with all relevant staff and ensure that the resulting improvements can be demonstrated as part of the audit process.

We spoke with patients before they saw the dentist about giving consent to treatment. They all said they signed the appropriate documents at the beginning of each visit.

They told us the dentist had informed them about their treatment plan, but they had not received a written copy of it.

Some of them told us they had been asked about their level of satisfaction, but others said they had not been asked. No one could recall having completed patient survey forms.

They told us they thought the practice employees were helpful, polite and informative and that their privacy had been maintained at all times.

Patients said they had been told about fees, had been informed about changes had seen other patients accessing emergency treatment.

They said the surgeries were clean and hygienic and that the dentists and nurses had good hygiene practices.