We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 26 July 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

Gordon Road Dental Care is a dental practice providing mostly private dental treatment. The practice is located in premises in the West Bridgeford area of Nottingham. The practice is situated on the first floor of premises close to the centre of West Bridgeford. There is a public pay and display car park available close to the practice. The practice has two treatment rooms, both of which are located on the first floor.

The current provider at the practice was first registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in November 2015. The practice provides regulated dental services to both adults and children. This is mostly private treatment (90%). Services provided include general dentistry, dental hygiene, crowns and bridges, and root canal treatment.

The practice’s opening hours are – Monday to Friday: 8:30 am to 6 pm.

Access for urgent treatment outside of opening hours is by telephoning the practice and following the instructions on the answerphone message or for patients under the age of 18 years by telephoning the 111 NHS service.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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.

The practice has one dentist; three qualified dental nurses and a practice manager. Dental nurses also work on the reception desk.

We received positive feedback from 33 patients about the services provided. This was through CQC comment cards given out during the inspection and by speaking with patients in the practice.

Our key findings were:

• Patients at the practice and through CQC comment cards provided positive feedback about their experiences at the practice. Patients said they were treated with dignity and respect.
• The practice was well equipped.
• Dentists identified the different treatment options, and discussed these with patients.
• Patients’ confidentiality was maintained.
• The practice was visibly clean and tidy.
• The practice followed the relevant guidance from the Department of Health's: ‘Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM 01-05) for infection control with regard to cleaning and sterilizing dental instruments.
• There was a whistleblowing policy accessible to all staff, who were aware of procedures to follow if they had any concerns.
• Records showed there were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• The practice had the necessary equipment for staff to deal with medical emergencies, and staff had been trained how to use that equipment. This included an automated external defibrillator, oxygen and emergency medicines.