We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 27 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

Dr Hinal Patel - Epsom is located in Epsom, Surrey. The premises are situated adjacent to Epsom hospital. There are six treatment rooms, a decontamination room, a small stock room, an x-ray room, a reception area, an office, patient toilet, two waiting areas, and a staff kitchen and changing room. These are distributed across the ground, first and second floors of the building.

The practice provides NHS and private services to adults and children. The practice offers a range of dental services including routine examinations and treatment, implants, veneers, crowns and bridges.

The staff structure of the practice consists of a principal dentist, a registered specialist prosthodontist, five associate dentists, seven dental nurses, two dental hygienists, four receptionists and a practice manager.

The practice opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5:30pm.

The principal dentist 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.

The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist advisor.

We reviewed 16 Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards that had been completed by patients in the two weeks prior to our inspection. All patients were positive about the care they received from the practice. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the dental staff.

Our key findings were:

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

• There were effective systems in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.

• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children living in vulnerable circumstances.

• Staff reported incidents and kept records of these which the practice used for shared learning.

• There were effective arrangements in place for managing medical emergencies.

• Equipment, such as the air compressor, autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.

• Patients indicated that they felt they were listened to and that they received good care from a helpful and caring practice team.

• The practice ensured staff maintained the necessary skills and competence to support the needs of patients.

• The practice had implemented clear procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.

• The provider had a clear vision for the practice and staff told us they were well supported by the management team.

• Governance arrangements and audits were effective in improving the quality and safety of the services.

We inspected Epsom Dental Care to look at the care and treatment provided to people who used the service. During our inspection we spoke with four patients who had used the service, three members of staff and one dentist. We also observed, with the patients permission, two treatment sessions as well as reviewing a selection of patient record cards.

All of the patients we spoke with were very happy with the practice. One person told us “I’ve found a good dentist.”

People told us that treatment was discussed with them and staff ensured they gained consent before treatment commenced. Medical histories were reviewed for each person and oral health advice given when appropriate.

We saw that the practice was clean and well maintained. All of the patients we spoke with were satisfied with the standard of cleanliness in the surgery.

The patients we spoke with had never needed to complain but felt they could speak to the staff with any concerns they had.