We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 15 February 2017 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

IGDP Dental Practice located in Islington provides private dental treatment to patients of all ages. The practice also provides conscious sedation and minor oral surgery services. [Conscious sedation is a procedure using a combination of medicines to help a patient to relax (a sedative) and to block pain (an anaesthetic) during a medical or dental procedure. The patient remains awake during the whole procedure].

Practice staffing consists of the principal dentist, four associate dentists, two hygienists, four dental nurses, receptionist, and managerial staff.

The principal dentist 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.

The practice is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am to 5pm, Wednesday 9am to 7pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm.

The practice facilities include four treatment rooms, a decontamination room, reception/waiting area, staff room and office

50 patients provided feedback about the service. Patients who completed comment cards were very positive about the care they received from the service. Patients told us that they were happy with the treatment and advice they had received.

Our key findings were:

• There were systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. Dental instruments were cleaned and sterilised in line with current guidance.
• 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).
• Staff had received safeguarding children and adults training and knew the processes to follow to raise any concerns. The practice had whistleblowing policies and procedure and staff were aware of these and their responsibilities to report any concerns
• Equipment, such as the autoclaves, fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.
• Conscious sedation was delivered safely in accordance with current guidelines.
• The practice had a procedure for handling and responding to complaints, which were displayed and available to patients.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Staff had been trained to handle medical emergencies, and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were readily available.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• The practice sought feedback from patients and staff about the services they provided and acted on this to improve its services.
• Governance systems were effective and there were a range of policies and procedures in place which underpinned the management of the practice. Clinical audits were carried out to monitor the quality of services.

One person noted 'this is one of the better practices, the staff are very friendly.' Another person advised that ‘it’s a pleasant place.’ People spoken to indicated that people’s treatment options and costs were explained to them and their privacy and dignity were respected. They were able to book appointments at times convenient to them, and were usually seen promptly by dental staff. They were positive about their dentists’ skills, the practice environment, and the knowledge and friendliness of staff.

Amongst comments received from people who had completed the practice's feedback surveys, people said 'This is the best dentist I've ever been to,’ ‘They have a nice waiting room, it's good to have TV,' and 'No complaints I've been coming for 20 years so it must be good.’

The clinic environment was clean with processes in place to maintain the hygiene of treatment rooms and instruments between each patient.

Appropriate records were kept of each appointment including initial assessments and medical histories.