We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 8 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

Lansdown Dental Practice has three dentists, who work full time, three qualified dental nurses who are registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) and one trainee dental nurse. The practice’s opening hours are 9.15 am to 5pm Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 9.15am to 7pm on Wednesday and 9.15am to 6pm on Thursday.

Lansdown Dental Practice provides NHS and private treatment for adults and children. The practice is situated in a converted property. The practice has three dental treatment rooms; one on the ground floor and two on the first floor and a separate decontamination room for cleaning, sterilising and packing dental instruments. There is also a reception and two waiting areas, one of which is on the first floor.

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.

Before the inspection we sent Care Quality Commission comment cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice and during the inspection we spoke with patients. We received feedback from 48 patients who provided an overwhelmingly positive view of the services the practice provides. All of the patients commented that the quality of care was very good.

Our key findings were:

• Systems were in place for the recording and learning from significant events and accidents.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect.
• The practice was visibly clean and well maintained.
• Infection control procedures were in place and staff had access to personal protective equipment.
• The provider had emergency medicines in line with the British National Formulary (BNF) guidance for medical emergencies in dental practice.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies.
• Patients’ confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients and waiting times were kept to a minimum.
• Some staff from within the practice visited local schools to provide oral health and hygiene advice to children.
• The practice was well-led and staff felt involved and worked as a team.
• All staff were clear of their roles and responsibilities.

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

• Review the practices current system for monitoring the expiry dates of medicines to be used in an emergency situation and implement any changes needed to demonstrate that these expiry dates are monitored.
• Review the practice’s protocols for recording in the patients’ dental care records or elsewhere the reason for taking the X-ray and quality of the X-ray giving due regard to the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IR(ME)R) 2000.
• Review the practice's protocols for completion of dental records giving due regard to guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice regarding clinical record keeping.
• Review the practice’s audit protocols of various aspects of the service, such as infection prevention and control, radiography and dental care records at regular intervals to help improve the quality of service. The practice should also check all audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.