We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 22 November 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

Mereside Dental Practice is located in a residential suburb close to the centre of Alsager. Parking is available on nearby streets.

The practice entrance is to the rear of the premises. Reception and the waiting room are on the first floor, accessed by a flight of stairs. There are two treatment rooms, one of which is on the ground floor. The practice is accessible to patients with disabilities, mobility difficulties, and to wheelchair users.

There are patient toilet facilities on the first floor and fully accessible toilet facilities in an adjacent ground level building shared by the practice.

The practice provides general dental treatment to patients on an NHS or privately funded basis. The opening times are Monday and Wednesday 9.00am to 5.30pm, Tuesday 9.00am to 4.20pm, Thursday 9.00am to 6.00pm, and Friday 9.00am to 4.40pm. The practice is closed for lunch between 1.00pm and 2.00pm, except for Friday when it is closed for lunch between 12.30pm and 1.30pm. The practice is staffed by a principal dentist and four dental nurse/ receptionists.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission 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 received feedback from 39 people during the inspection about the services provided. Patients commented that they found that staff were professional, friendly, and caring. They said that they were always given good explanations about dental treatment, that treatment was of a high standard and that the dentist listened to them. Patients commented that the practice was clean and comfortable.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had procedures in place to record and analyse significant events and incidents.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, and knew the processes to follow to raise concerns.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, skilled staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies, and emergency medicines and equipment were available.
• The premises and equipment were clean, secure and well maintained.
• Staff followed current infection control guidelines for decontaminating and sterilising equipment.
• Patients’ needs were assessed, and care and treatment were delivered, in accordance with current legislation, standards, and guidance.
• Patients received information about their care, proposed treatment, costs, benefits, and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Staff were supported to deliver effective care, and opportunities for training and learning were available.
• Patients were treated with kindness, dignity, and respect, and their confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients, and emergency appointments were available.
• Services were planned and delivered to meet the needs of patients, and reasonable adjustments were made to enable patients to receive their care and treatment.
• The practice gathered the views of patients and took their views into account.
• Staff were supervised, felt involved, and worked as a team.
• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice.

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

• Review the current legionella risk assessment having due regard to the guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.

We spoke with four patients who were visiting the practice during our inspection, they all told us they were happy with the service provided. One patient told us: “The staff are lovely people. They’ve worked here for years and know what they are doing.” Another patient told us: “The staff are excellent.”

Patients told us that the dental practice was well presented and that the surgeries were always very clean and tidy when they attended. They also said they were consulted and informed about the treatment options, had consented to the treatment provided and were given appropriate after care advice following any treatment. They said they were happy with the dentist and the practice and found the staff to be professional in their approach.

We found that the majority of staff had worked for the practice for quite a number of years and the staff recruitment files reviewed reflected this. Therefore the staff records reviewed were pre their Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration. We saw in the staff files reviewed staff had maintained their continuous professional development to maintain their registration with their professional body the General Dental Council.