We carried out this announced inspection on 10 April 2018 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 that we were inspecting the practice. We did not receive any information of concern from them.

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

Fusion Dental Practice is in Withington and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.

The practice is in a high street location, a step at the front entrance and up to the treatment room limits access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. On street parking is available near the practice.

The dental team includes one dentist, one dental nurse and one reception manager. The practice has one treatment room.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

On the day of inspection we collected 22 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with the dentist and the reception manager. The dental nurse was not present. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00 and occasional Saturdays by prior arrangement.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean, the premises would benefit from refurbishment.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Medicines and life-saving equipment were available. The practice did not have access to an Automated External Defibrillator.
• 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 met 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 had a process to deal with complaints positively and efficiently.

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

• Review availability of staff training and 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 infection control procedures and protocols taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the 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’ (In particular, to audit infection prevention and control on a six-monthly basis.

• Review the protocols and procedures to ensure staff are up to date with their mandatory training; including safeguarding, and their Continuing Professional Development.

• Review its responsibilities to the needs of people with a disability and the requirements of the equality Act 2010 and ensure a Disability Discrimination Act audit is undertaken for the premises.