We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 11 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

Goldsworth Road Dental Centre is located in the town of Woking, Surrey and offers private general dentistry services, implants, cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics. The practice also sees children on the NHS for general dentisty and orthodontics. The practice receives referrals for some orthodontic treatment for children on the NHS. The practice has seven dentists, three locum dentists, one therapist, two hygienists, five qualified dental nurses, two student nurses and three receptionists. The dental team is supported by a practice manger.

The practice has six treatment rooms, over two floors, three are on the ground floor. The practice layout includes a reception, area, two spacious waiting areas, two X-ray rooms, a decontamination room, office spaces and staff facilities.

The practice is open: Monday 8am to 5pm,Tuesday 9am to 6.30pm, Wednesday and Thursday 8am to 5pm, and Friday 9am to 4pm. The practice holds alternate Saturday clinics 9am to 1pm.

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.

On the day of inspection we received 50 CQC comment cards providing feedback and 145 share your experience forms submitted through our website. The patients who provided feedback were very positive about the care and attention to treatment they received at the practice. They told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be excellent, great at responding to pain requirements, helpful and they were treated with dignity and respect in a clean and tidy environment.

Our key findings were:

• Patient care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current regulations.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were consitstantly involved in making decisions about it.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs. Appointments were easy to book and emergency slots were available each day for patients requiring urgent treatment.
• There was a complaints system. Staff recorded complaints and cascaded learning to staff.
• The governance systems were effective.
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided.
• We found that the practice ethos was to provide patient centred dental care in a relaxed and friendly environment.
• Strong and effective leadership was provided by the principal dentist.
• Infection control procedures were robust and carried out in accordance with current guidance
• The practice was clean, spacious and very well maintained.