We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 1 June 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

CQC inspected the practice on 16 March 2012 and asked the provider to make improvements regarding safeguarding procedures, safeguarding training and Criminal Records Bureau, (now Disclosure and Barring Service), checks for staff. We checked these areas as part of this comprehensive inspection and found these improvements had been made.

The practice offers general dental care to patients of all ages on a private basis and to children on an NHS basis. The practice is open Monday 8.00am to 5.00pm, Tuesday and Thursday 9.00am to 5.00pm, Wednesday 9.00am to 5.45pm and Friday 08.00am to 4.30pm.

The practice is staffed by a principal dentist, three associate dentists, five dental nurses and a practice manager who is also a dental nurse.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.

We received feedback from 26 people on CQC comment cards during the inspection about the services provided. Patients commented that they found the practice excellent and that staff were friendly, kind and caring. They said that they were always given good and helpful explanations about dental treatment and that the dentists listened to them. Patients commented that the practice was clean and comfortable.

Our key findings were:

• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was well maintained.
• There was an effective complaints system.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, 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.
• Staff had been trained to manage medical emergencies, and emergency medicines and equipment were available.
• Infection control procedures were in accordance with the published guidelines.
• Patient care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines and current regulations.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• Patients could access routine treatment and urgent care when required.
• The practice was well-led, staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The governance systems were effective.

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

• Review the systems and processes in place to comply with Regulations 4 to 20 of the HSCA 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, specifically in relation to seeking and acting on feedback from service users on the services provided, to allow continual evaluation and improvement of the service.

We spoke to a sample of two patients who were attending the practice during our visit. They said that the staff and level of service experienced was “good”.

Patients told us they were given information about their treatment options and costs and knew what to expect before consenting to treatment. One patient reported that they had been registered at the practice for many years and also had other family members signed up with the practice.

Patients spoken with reported they were very happy with the level of service and care offered. Patients reported that staff were caring, professional and helpful.

People informed us that they had no complaints and told us that if they had a problem they would speak to their dentist or another member of the practice