We carried out this announced inspection on 11 July 2017 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

We told the NHS England area team and Healthwatch that we were inspecting the practice. They provided information which we took into account.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it caring?

• Is it responsive to people’s needs?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

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

Fieldside Dental Practice is in Thorne, Doncaster and is part of Hurlfield Dental Ltd. Fieldside Dental Practice provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. There is a practice car park, including spaces for patients with disabled badges located behind the practice.

The practice is administered by an area principal dentist and an area manager. The dental team includes two dentists, a senior dental nurse with a managerial role, four dental nurses (three of whom are trainees) and one dental hygiene therapist. Reception duties are covered by the dental nurses on rotation. The practice has three treatment rooms, an instrument decontamination room and an X-ray processing room.

The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers 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 registered manager at Fieldside Dental Practice was the area principal dentist.

On the day of inspection we collected 18 CQC comment cards filled in by patients, this information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, three dental nurses, the dental hygiene therapist and the area manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday – Thursday 9.00am – 5.30pm

Friday 9.00am – 3.45pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had infection control procedures which mostly reflected published guidance; we identified two minor areas for improvement.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols relating to the clear identification of instrument transportation containers taking into account guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’
• Review the practice's waste handling protocols to ensure waste is segregated safely in accordance with relevant regulations and taking into account guidance issued in the Health Technical Memorandum 07-01.
• Review the practice’s protocols for the stamping of prescriptions in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor their use.

As part of this inspection we spoke with five people who used the service. They gave positive feedback about the care that they received. They said their treatment was explained to them. They also said staff were friendly and professional. One person said, "They are friendly and professional." Another said, “The dentist explained everything and discussed my options for treatment."