We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 10 March 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

Gatley Park Dental Practice is located in Gatley village in the borough of Stockport. The practice is situated on the first floor of a commercial property which is accessed via a flight of stairs and as such was not accessible to people with restricted mobility or wheelchair users. People requiring level access were signposted to local dental practices that occupied ground floor premises.

The practice provides predominantly NHS treatment (80%) and a smaller amount (20%) of private treatments. Facilities within the practice include four treatment rooms, a dedicated decontamination room, a spacious waiting room and a reception area. The practice opening hours are Mondays 8.30am to 7pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 8.30am to 6pm and Friday 8.30am to 1pm.

There is a principal dentist who is the practice owner, two associate dentists, a hygienist, a specialist periodontal surgeon and a sessional Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial

specialist. They are supported by a team of dental nurses and a practice manager.

The principal dentist (practice owner) is the 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 received feedback about the service from 16 patients via CQC comment cards and through speaking with patients on the day of the inspection.

Our key findings were:

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

• Staff demonstrated a good understanding of whistleblowing and were confident they would raise a concern about another staff member’s performance if it was necessary.

• The practice followed the guidance issued by the Department of Health's: ‘Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM 01-05) for infection control.
• Equipment, such as the air compressor, autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment were maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s guidance and were regularly serviced.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with best practice guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Delivering Better Oral Health.

• Staff had been trained to respond to medical emergencies, and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were readily available. This included an automated electronic defibrillator (AED). An AED is a portable electronic device that analyses life threatening irregularities of the heart including ventricular fibrillation and is able to deliver an electrical shock to attempt to restore a normal heart rhythm.

• The practice had effective systems in place to gain the comments and views of people who used the service.

• Appropriate pre-employment checks were carried out before staff commenced work in the practice.

• All clinical staff were up to date with their continuing professional development (CPD). Clinical staff were required to complete a specified number of hours CPD in a five year period to maintain their professional registration with the General Dental Council (GDC).

• Patients we spoke with and those who completed comment cards told us they were treated with care and staff were professional and friendly. We observed positive interaction between staff and patients during the inspection.