We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 11 March 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

Keyworth Dental Practice is situated on the first floor of a premises close to the centre of the village of Keyworth to the south east of Nottingham. The practice was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in May 2011. The practice provides regulated dental services to patients from Keyworth and the surrounding area. The practice provides mostly private dental treatment (90%). Services provided include general dentistry, dental hygiene, crowns and bridges, and root canal treatment.

The practice’s opening hours are: Monday: 9 am to 7 pm; Tuesday and Thursday: 9 am to 5:30 pm; Wednesday: 8:30 am to 5 pm; and Friday 9 am to 5 pm. The practice is open some Saturdays 9 am to 1 pm.

Access for urgent treatment outside of opening hours is by telephoning the practice and following the instructions on the answerphone message. The practice is part of the south Nottinghamshire rota for private patients. Alternatively patients should ring the 111 telephone number for access to the NHS emergency dental 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 two dentists; two dental hygienist/ therapists; three dental nurses; one trainee dental nurse and one receptionist.

We received positive feedback from 31 patients about the services provided. This was through CQC comment cards left at the practice prior to the inspection and by speaking with patients in the practice.

Our key findings were:

• Patients spoke positively about their experiences of the dental services they received, and said they were treated with dignity and respect.
• Dentists identified the treatment options, and explored and discussed these with patients.
• Patients’ confidentiality was maintained.
• There were systems in place to record accidents, significant events and complaints, and where learning points were identified these were shared with staff.
• The records showed that apologies had been given for any concerns or upset that patients had experienced at the practice.
• 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 oxygen and emergency medicines.
• The practice followed the relevant guidance from the Department of Health's: ‘Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM 01-05) for infection control.
• Dentists involved patients in discussions about the care and treatment on offer at the practice. Patient recall intervals were in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.

The practice was on the first floor with a choice of either a staircase or a stair-lift to access the reception area. We saw that patients had use of a stair lift if they required and staff told us there is an access button at the bottom of the stairs that patients can use if they required assistance.

The waiting area was spacious and well decorated with seating for eight people. There were three patients waiting for their appointments on the day of our visit. We saw reading material, cold water dispenser, tea and coffee that were readily available for patients use while they waited. We saw toys were available for young patients to keep them occupied while they waited for their appointment.

We spoke with two patients and observed three more during our visit. We saw they were welcomed into the practice and general conversation was used by staff to help patients relax and feel comfortable.

Patients’ told us they were happy with the way the practice was run and had no concerns’. They said they were aware of how to raise a concern and who to report any concerns to.

Patients told us they were satisfied with the treatment they received and were involved in all aspects of their treatment. They said they made decisions accordingly.

We saw the practice was clean and tidy, patients confirmed the environment was clean and tidy at all times.