We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 21 May 2015 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

The practice is close to the centre of Skegness in Lincolnshire and is part of the IDH dental group. It is located within the ground floor of a large Edwardian house this contains two surgeries, a decontamination room, a reception area, a waiting room, an office and staff room. The practice has wheelchair access and a toilet that is adapted for those persons with disabilities it also contains baby changing facilities.

The practice has two dentists, a practice manager, a hygiene therapist, a dental nurse, four trainee dental nurses and a receptionist.

The practice provides primary dental services to both NHS and private patients. The practice is open Monday – Friday from 8.30am – 5.30pm.

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 reviewed completed comment cards that had been supplied to the practice by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), 20 people provided feedback about the service. All but two of the comments were positive about the service they had received. Patients commented that the service was efficient, staff were friendly and helpful and the dentists were very good.

Our key findings were:

• Staff had received safeguarding and whistleblowing training and knew the processes to follow to raise any concerns.
• Infection control procedures were in place and the practice followed published guidance.
• Patient’s care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current legislation.
• 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
• The practice was well-led and staff felt involved and worked as a team.
• Governance systems were effective and there was a range of clinical and non-clinical audits to monitor the quality of services

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

• Consider replacing the two ornate counter top sinks in surgery one as these did not conform to hygiene standards
• Repair or replace the flooring around the dental chair in Surgery 1
• Cover or remove the Edwardian Cast Iron Range in Surgery 2
• Secure the locked clinical waste containers in an area to which the public could not gain access