We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 13 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

Forest House Dental Surgery is a dental practice providing mostly NHS dental treatment. The practice is located in premises on the edge of Leicester in the Leicester Forest East area. There is a small car park available to the front of the practice; otherwise there is roadside parking in the area. There are no specific designated disabled car parking spaces available. The practice has six treatment rooms, three of which are on the ground floor.

The practice was first registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in June 2011. The practice provides regulated dental services to both adults and children. This is mostly NHS treatment (95%). Services provided include general dentistry, dental hygiene, crowns and bridges, and root canal treatment.

The practice’s opening hours are – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 9 am to 5pm; Tuesday: 9am to 7pm; practice is closed at the weekend.

Access for urgent treatment outside of opening hours is by telephoning the practice and following the instructions on the answerphone message or by telephoning the 111 NHS service.

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 practice has four dentists; one dental hygienist/ dental therapist; four qualified dental nurses; three trainee dental nurses; one patient care manager; two patient care co-ordinators; one community support co-ordinator; one lead receptionist; and a practice manager. Patient care co-ordinators also work on the reception desk.

We received positive feedback from six patients about the services provided. This was through CQC comment cards given out during the inspection and by speaking with patients in the practice.

Our key findings were:

• Patients at the practice and through CQC comment cards provided positive feedback about their experiences at the practice. Patients said they were treated with dignity and respect.
• The practice was well equipped.
• Dentists identified the different treatment options, and discussed these with patients.
• Patients’ confidentiality was maintained.
• The practice was visibly clean and tidy.
• The practice followed the relevant guidance from the Department of Health's: ‘Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM 01-05) for infection control with regard to cleaning and sterilizing dental instruments.
• There was a whistleblowing policy accessible to all staff, who were aware of procedures to follow if they had any concerns.
• Records showed there were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• The practice had the necessary equipment for staff to deal with medical emergencies, and staff had been trained how to use that equipment. This included an automated external defibrillator, oxygen and emergency medicines.

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

• Review the practice’s infection control procedures in relation to manual cleaning and the central decontamination and storage system, giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05.

• Review the practice’s responsibilities in relation to the needs of people with a disability and the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 by reviewing the availability of an interpreting service and the need for a hearing induction loop at the premises.

People told us that they felt included in any care planning and that their questions or concerns were always listed to before any treatment started. The felt the care provided was safe and that the staff were very professional.