We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 4 August 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

Kingsway Dental Practice is located in a residential suburb close to the centre of Chester and comprises a reception and waiting room, two treatment rooms and an office / storage / staff room. Parking is available outside the premises. The practice is accessible to patients with disabilities, impaired mobility and to wheelchair users.

The practice provides general dental treatment to patients on an NHS or privately funded basis. The opening times are Monday to Thursday 9.00am to 5.30pm and Friday 9.00am to 2.00pm. The practice is staffed by a principal dentist, two associate dentists, three dental nurses who are also receptionists, and a trainee dental nurse.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.

We received feedback from 33 people during the inspection about the services provided. Patients commented that they found the practice excellent and well organised, and that staff were very helpful, welcoming and caring. They said they were always given good and clear explanations about dental treatment and options, and that the dentists listened to them. Patients commented that the practice was clean and comfortable. Patients were particularly complimentary about the availability of emergency appointments. One patient commented that it would be difficult to improve the service.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had procedures in place to record and analyse significant events and incidents.
• Staff had received safeguarding training and knew the process to follow to raise concerns.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and skilled staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies, and emergency medicines and equipment were available.
• The premises and equipment were clean, secure and well maintained.
• Patients’ needs were assessed, and care and treatment were delivered, in accordance with current legislation, standards and guidance.
• Patients received information about their care, proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Staff were supported to deliver effective care, and opportunities for training and learning were available.
• Patients were treated with kindness, dignity and respect, and their confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients, and emergency appointments were available.
• The practice gathered the views of patients and took into account patient feedback.
• Staff were supervised, felt involved and worked as a team.
• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice and for the delivery of high quality person centred care.
• The provider had infection prevention and control procedures in place and staff followed current guidelines for the decontamination of equipment however some improvements were needed to instrument storage.
• Services were planned and delivered to meet the needs of patients and reasonable adjustments were made to enable patients to receive their care and treatment; however a formal Disability Discrimination Audit had not been carried out.

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

• Review the practice’s infection prevention and control procedures and protocols in relation to instrument storage and cleaning equipment having due regard to guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices, and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.
• Review the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act and ensure an audit of the premises is undertaken.
• Ensure the storage of records relating to people employed is in accordance with current legislation and guidance.