We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 5 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

Dee Kay Dental is situated in Kirton Lindsey, Lincolnshire. It offers mainly NHS treatment to patients of all ages but also offers private dental treatments. The services include preventative advice and treatment and routine restorative dental care.

The practice has two surgeries, a decontamination room, a waiting area and a reception area. All facilities were located on the ground floor. There were accessible toilet facilities on the ground floor of the premises.

There was one dentist, a dental hygiene therapist, three dental nurses, one receptionist and a cleaner.

The opening hours are Monday and Tuesday from 9-00am to 5-30pm and Wednesday to Friday from 9-00am to 5-00pm.

The practice owner 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.

During the inspection we spoke with seven patients who used the service and reviewed 26 completed CQC comment cards. The patients were positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice. Comments included that the practice was very clean and that staff were polite, helpful, friendly and professional. Patients also commented that they were given very clear explanations about treatment.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and hygienic.
• The practice had systems in place to assess and manage risks to patients and staff including infection prevention, control and health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.
• Staff were qualified and had received training appropriate to their roles.
• Dental care records were detailed and showed that treatment was planned in line with current best practice guidelines.
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).
• We observed that patients were treated with kindness and respect by staff. Staff ensured there was sufficient time to explain fully the care and treatment they were providing in a way patients understood.
• Patients were involved in making decisions about their treatment and were given clear explanations about their proposed treatment including costs, benefits and risks.
• Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed.
• There were clearly defined leadership roles within the practice.

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

• Review the practice’s protocol for the storage of dental burs, endodontics files and local anaesthetics.
• Review the procedures in relation to the OPT machine and X-ray machine in the store room and decommission the units if not being used.
• Review the practice's protocols for documenting when risks and benefits have been discussed and also the rationale for particular course of treatment.