We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 26 October 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

Glow Dentistry is located in the London Borough of Barnet and provides private dental treatment to both adults and children. The premises are on the ground floor and consist of one treatment room, a reception area and a decontamination room. The practice is open Monday - Friday 8:00am – 8:00pm.

The staff consists of the principal dentist, a dental nurse, a dental hygienist, a receptionists and a practice manager.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual ‘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 reviewed 21 CQC comment cards, the practice patient’s comments book and the practice patient satisfaction survey. Patients were positive about the service. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the staff.

The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist advisor.

Our key findings were:

• There were appropriate equipment and access to emergency drugs to enable the practice to respond to medical emergencies. Staff knew where equipment was stored.

• We found the dentists regularly assessed each patient’s gum health and took X-rays at appropriate intervals.
• Patients were involved in their care and treatment planning so they could make informed decisions.
• There were effective processes in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.
• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and child protection.
• Equipment, such as the autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• The practice had implemented clear procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.
• Patients indicated that they found the team to be efficient, professional, caring and reassuring.
• Patients had good access to appointments, including emergency appointments, which were available on the same day.
• Leadership structures were clear and there were processes in place for dissemination of information and feedback to staff.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

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

• Review the current staffing arrangements to ensure all dental care professionals are adequately supported by a trained member of the dental team when treating patients in a dental setting.
• Review the practice’s arrangements for receiving and responding to patient safety alerts, recalls and rapid response reports issued from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and through the Central Alerting System (CAS), as well as from other relevant bodies such as, Public Health England (PHE).

Patients told us that the dental services they had received were of a high quality. They told us they were treated with respect and that staff were welcoming and approachable. The patients we spoke to all confirmed that they would recommend the dental practice to other people.

Patients told us the dentist informed them of how they could improve their dental health. They confirmed that they felt involved in decisions about their dental treatment and were provided with treatment options, which were explained to them in a way they understood.

Patients told us that all costs were made clear to them before treatment commenced and they confirmed they were asked for their consent prior to all their dental treatment. Patients said their privacy and dignity were respected and they told us that the premises including the treatment room were always very clean.

We saw there were arrangements in place for the management of infection control and there were appropriate checks in place to ensure standards were adhered to. Staff were knowledgeable about infection control and decontamination procedures for equipment and instruments used.

Comments from patients included: the staff "are very friendly and put me at ease as I am extremely nervous”, I am very happy with the work the dentist has done to restore my teeth", "I am given options about my treatment, the dentist explains the risks and benefits to enable me to make a good decision for me", “I would recommend the practice”.