We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 8 February 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

Mawsley Dental Clinic is part of the Southern Dental group. There were seven dentists and two dental hygienists who provided NHS and private treatment to approximately 22,000 patients. The practice employed five trained dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse, and two receptionists.

The two storey practice was located in Mawsley Village and shared a building with the local GP Practice. The ground floor of the practice had two treatment rooms, reception desk, cleaning and storage room, and one of the two decontamination rooms for cleaning, sterilising, and packing dental instruments. There were a further three treatment rooms, a second decontamination room, and a staff room on the first floor.

The premises were accessible to wheelchair users and there were waiting areas and toilets accessible for patients with disabilities on both floors. A lift was available for patients who could not manage the stairs. A car park, with designated disabled parking spaces was available.

The practice manager is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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 12 patients during the inspection process. We received positive comments about the cleanliness of the premises, the empathy and responsiveness of staff, and the quality of treatment provided.

Four patients told us that staff explained treatment plans to them well. Patients reported that the practice had seen them on the same day for emergency treatment. Patients commented that the service they received was good, and that they were always clear about the costs involved in their treatment.

Our key findings were:

• Staff had received safeguarding training and knew the processes to follow in order to raise any concerns.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were readily available and accessible.
• Infection control procedures were in place and staff had access to personal protective equipment.
• Patients’ care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines and current legislation.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits, and risks and were involved in making decisions about them.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients and waiting times were kept to a minimum.
• The practice staff felt involved and worked as a team.

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

• The practice’s protocols for conscious sedation should be embedded and implemented, giving due regard to guidelines published by The Intercollegiate Advisory Committee on Sedation in Dentistry in the document Standards for Conscious Sedation in the Provision of Dental Care 2015.
• Review practice systems and risk assessments, particularly with regard to infection control, X-rays and the arrangements for the use of conscious sedation
• Undertaken at regular intervals audits relating to X-rays and infection prevention to help improve the quality of service.
• Strengthen the clinical oversight, and ensure shared and reflective learning.

All the people we spoke with told us that they were pleased with the treatment and care they received at the Mawsley dental clinic.

One person told us, “They are very welcoming at the clinic; you’re a person and not a number". They also told us, "when I had a concern about my treatment I spoke with a dentist straight away, I was impressed with the whole package”. The person told us that they had been given lots of information about treatment choices. They said that this information helped them decide on the treatment that best suited their needs. The person also told us that they were able to get appointments at the times that suited their needs.

Another person told us that they thought the dental clinic was a nice place to have treatment and they were impressed because the equipment the dentist used was up to date. The person also told us that they were very pleased with the treatment the dentist had given them. They said, “my treatment was very good; the dentist put me at my ease and made sure I was alright".