We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 3 May 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

Gencare Dental Clinic - Tickhill is situated in Tickhill near Doncaster, South Yorkshire. It offers mainly NHS treatment to patients of all ages but also offers private dental treatments. The services include preventative advice and treatment and routine restorative dental care.

The practice has two surgeries, a decontamination room, an X-ray room, a waiting area and a reception area. The reception area, waiting area, X-ray room and one surgery are on the ground floor. The other surgery is on the first floor. There are accessible toilet facilities on the ground floor of the premises.

There are two dentists, a dental hygienist, three dental nurses (who also share reception duties), a cleaner and a practice manager.

The opening hours are Monday from 9-00am to 6-00pm, Tuesday to Thursday from 9-00am to 5-30pm and Friday from 9-00am to 4-00pm.

The practice manager is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

During the inspection we received feedback from 4 patients. The patients were positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice. Comments included that the premises were clean and that staff were friendly, polite and professional.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and hygienic.
• The practice had systems in place to assess and manage risks to patients and staff including infection prevention, control and health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.
• Staff were qualified and had received training appropriate to their roles.
• Dental care records showed that treatment was planned in line with current best practice guidelines.
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).
• We observed that patients were treated with kindness and respect by staff. Staff ensured there was sufficient time to explain fully the care and treatment they were providing in a way patients understood.

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

• Review the arrangement for the secure storage of clinical waste.
• Review the practice’s audit protocols to record the percentage of X-rays which are grade one, two or three giving due regard to the guidance from the National Radiation Protection Board (NRPB).
• Review the practice’s protocol for the recording of a report for each X-ray which is taken.
• Review the practice’s protocol for recording where risks and benefits of different treatment options have been discussed.

People we spoke with who used the service said they were given choices as to the treatments available to them. They said they were satisfied with the care they received and that staff seemed to be well trained.

They also said they thought the practice was clean and hygienic, and that infection control procedures were followed.

They said they had not been asked their opinion of the service.