We carried out this announced inspection on 29 August 2017 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. Two CQC inspectors, who were supported by a specialist dental adviser, led the inspection.

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

George Bureau Dental Surgery provides private dentistry to patients of all ages. The dental team consists of three part-time dentists, one part-time hygienist, five dental nurses and two receptionists, who between them support approximately 3000 patients. The practice has three treatment rooms and is open Mondays to Thursdays from 8.30am to 5pm, and on Fridays from 8.30am to 4pm.

There is access for wheelchair users at the rear of the building.

The practice is owned by Dr George Bureau who is the principal dentist there. He has 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 spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses and the practice manager. We looked at the practice’s policies and procedures, and other records about how the service was managed. We collected 11 comment cards filled in by patients prior to our inspection and spoke with another five.

Our key findings were:

• We received many very positive comments from patients about the dental care they received and the staff who delivered it.

• The practice was clean and well maintained, and had infection control procedures that reflected published guidance.

• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies, although not all recommended life-saving equipment was available.

• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with current best practice guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and other published guidance.

• Members of the dental team were up-to-date with their continuing professional development and were supported to meet the requirements of their professional registration.

• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported and valued by the practice manager and owner. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Review the practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure appropriate references and DBS checks are undertaken for all new staff.

• Review safeguarding training requirements for staff.