We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 25 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

LWT Dental Care is situated in Ecclesall, approximately two miles from Sheffield city centre. It comprises of five treatment rooms, a reception area and separate waiting room, an instrument decontamination and sterilisation room, a staff room and administration area and has disabled access and accessible toilet facilities. The practice provides NHS and private dental treatments and has been operating from its current site since the 1950’s.

There are three principal dentists, two associate dentists (one of which provides preventative dentistry only), one outgoing foundation dentist, nine dental nurses (eight qualified dental nurses and one trainee), two receptionists, and a practice administrator.

The practice is open:

Monday to Friday 09:00 – 17:30

One of the practice owners is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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.

On the day of inspection we received 29 CQC comment cards providing feedback. The patients who provided feedback were very positive about the care and attention to treatment they received at the practice. They told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be very pleasant and helpful, the practice had a happy environment; staff were friendly and communicated well. Patients commented they could access emergency care easily and they were treated with dignity and respect in a clean and tidy environment.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was visibly clean and uncluttered.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report it. They had very good systems in place to work closely and share information with the local safeguarding team.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to manage medical emergencies.
• Patient care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current regulations.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• There was a complaints system in place. Staff recorded complaints and cascaded learning to staff.
• The governance systems were effective and embedded.
• The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients about the services.
• There was a clear leadership structure in place and staff felt supported at all levels.

We spoke privately with four people who were attending the practice for check ups or treatment. All four people told us that they were "very pleased" and "more than satisfied" with all aspects of the service. They told us that staff were "very friendly" and "professional". People told us they had "no grounds for complaint". Everyone commented on the cleanliness of the practice. They said they regularly saw staff making sure that the surgery was clean, tidy and hygienic.