We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 31 January 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

Finchley Dental Lounge is located in the London Borough of Barnet and provides private dental treatment to both adults and children. The premises are on the ground floor and consist of one treatment room, a reception area and a decontamination room. The practice is open Monday - Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm and Saturday 9:00am – 2:00pm.

The staff consists of the principal dentist, an associate dentist, a dental hygienist, a trainee dental nurse and a receptionist.

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.

We reviewed 29 CQC comment cards, the practice patient satisfaction survey and spoke with two patients. Patients were positive about the service. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the staff.

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

Our key findings were:

• There were appropriate equipment and access to emergency drugs to enable the practice to respond to medical emergencies. Staff knew where equipment was stored.

• We found the dentists regularly assessed each patient’s gum health and took X-rays at appropriate intervals.
• Patients were involved in their care and treatment planning so they could make informed decisions.
• There were effective processes 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 child protection.
• Equipment, such as the autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• The practice had implemented clear procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.
• Patients indicated that they found the team to be efficient, professional, caring and reassuring.
• Patients had good access to appointments, including emergency appointments, which were available on the same day.
• Leadership structures were clear and there were processes in place for dissemination of information and feedback to staff.
• 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 areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review availability of equipment to manage medical emergencies giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK), and the General Dental Council (GDC) standards for the dental team.
• Review the practice’s arrangements for receiving and responding to patient safety alerts, recalls and rapid response reports issued from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and through the Central Alerting System (CAS), as well as from other relevant bodies such as, Public Health England (PHE).
• Review the current Legionella risk assessment and implement the required actions including the monitoring and recording of water temperatures, giving due regard to the guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance
• Review the practice’s sharps procedures giving due regard to the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.

The positive comments received from patients included “I love coming here. They make me feel at home”. The layout of the environment had been planned to provide a “nice and calming” environment and staff had “patience and understanding”. Patients were seen promptly and the appointments system allowed people to choose time that suited them. A patient said the slot was “according to my timetable”. People told us that they were involved in discussing treatment options, which “were clearly explained”. One person commented “yes, I was given options to choose from and not pressured”. They said that the overall cost of the treatment plan was discussed and agreed.

People were satisfied with the quality of the care they received and told us that the service provided “first class dentistry”. They said that (the dentist) “is fantastic. He knows his job”. Patients told us that they would “absolutely recommend this service to others” and added that “I am in safe hands”. They were satisfied with the standards of cleanliness and hygiene in the practice. They had an opportunity to comment on the service provided by completing a patient satisfaction questionnaire.