We carried out this announced inspection on 4 September 2017 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it caring?

• Is it responsive to people’s needs?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

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

Market Place Dental Group is in Great Dunmow and provides private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is a portable ramp for access at the rear of the building for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs, with a notice and doorbell at the foot of the front steps to alert staff of patients’ presence. Car parking spaces, including those for disabled patients who are blue badge holders, are available in a car park near the practice.

The dental team includes two dentists, four dental nurses including one nurse/practice manager, one dental hygienist, one dental hygienist therapist and two receptionists. The practice has three treatment rooms, two on the ground floor and one on the first floor. There is a stair lift for patients with limited mobility to access the treatment room on the first floor.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They 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 collected 31 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with three other patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, three dental nurses, one dental hygiene therapist, one receptionist and the nurse/practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday to Thursday 9 am to 5 pm, from 5pm to 7pm Tuesday evenings and Friday from 9 am to 12 pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available. There was scope to ensure fridge temperatures were checked and monitored.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• Patients provided positive feedback about the service and the staff.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Review the practice's protocols for monitoring and recording the fridge temperature to ensure that medicines and dental care products are being stored in line with the manufacturer’s guidance.
• Review stocks of medicines and equipment and the system for identifying, disposing and replenishing of out-of-date stock.
• Review the practice’s system for recording, investigating and reviewing incidents or significant events with a view to preventing further occurrences and ensuring that improvements are made as a result.
• Review the practice’s arrangements for receiving and responding to patient safety alerts, recalls and rapid response reports issued from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and through the Central Alerting System (CAS), as well as from other relevant bodies, such as Public Health England (PHE).
• Review its responsibilities to the needs of people with a disability, including those with hearing impairments and the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.