We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 1 March 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

Lifestyle Dental is located in the Fulwood district of Preston and provides diagnostic, preventative, restoration and surgical dental procedures for the whole population. A dentist, hygienist, dental technician and two dental nurses work at the practice. The premises have been adapted to support the needs of people who are wheelchair users. The practice is located on the ground floor and includes a reception, waiting area, treatment room and toilet facilities.

The practice opening hours are:

Monday – 08.30 to 17.30

Tuesday – 09.30 to 16.30

Wednesday – 09.30 to 19.30

Thursday – 08.30 to17.30

Friday – 09.00 to 12.00.

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.

We reviewed 22 CQC comment cards on the day of our visit; patients were extremely positive about the staff and standard of care provided by the practice. Patients commented that they were treated with dignity and respect in a clean and tidy environment by staff that were informative, friendly and made them feel at ease.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had a proactive approach to governance and quality assurance.
• The practice was well organised, visibly clean and free from clutter.
• An infection prevention and control policy was in place. Sterilisation procedures followed Department of Health guidance.
• The practice had systems for recording incidents and accidents.
• Practice meetings were used to provide staff with updates and to discuss the outcome of checks and audits.
• The practice had a safeguarding policy and staff were aware of how to escalate safeguarding issues for children and adults should the need arise.
• Staff received annual medical emergency training.
• Dental professionals provided treatment in accordance with current professional guidelines, including sedation guidelines.
• Patient feedback was regularly sought and it was acted upon to improve the patient experience.
• Patients could access urgent care when required.
• Staff maintained their continuing professional development in accordance with their professional registration.
• A policy and procedure was in place for managing complaints.
• The practice was actively involved in promoting oral health.
• A record of pre-employment references taken verbally to ensure staff were suitable to work with vulnerable patients was not in place.
• Emergency equipment was being checked monthly and not weekly as required.

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

• Review the protocol for completing accurate and detailed records relating to employment of staff ensuring recruitment checks, including references, are suitably obtained and recorded.
• Review the arrangements for monitoring medical emergency equipment and medicines giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council (GDC) standards for the dental team.

People told us they were very satisfied with the care and treatment provided at Lifestyle Dental. They had been involved in their treatment plan and discussed their options before their treatment started.

People undergoing treatment told us, they found the staff to be friendly and reported that they were treated with respect and their privacy was maintained at all times. People commented, “I have been coming for treatment for a few months now. I was scared of going to a dentist but here I feel at ease”.

We were also told the environment was clean and relaxing, “This is my first visit, the practice looks clean, modern and I feel relaxed”. We were told that people received treatment that suited their needs. One person said, “I did my research before choosing Lifestyle Dental. The website was really informative and explained treatments in more depth and detail than anywhere else. The cases studies helped me understand the treatment I wanted done”.

We found suitable arrangements were in place to protect people from abuse and the risk of abuse. Appropriate checks were undertaken before staff began work.

We also found an effective system in place to identify, assess and manage risks to the health, safety of people using the service and others.