We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 5 June 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.

Mydentist - Ankerage Green - Worcester is a general dental practice offering NHS and private dental treatment. The practice treats adults and children.

The premises consist of a waiting area adjacent to the reception desk and four treatment rooms. There is also a separate decontamination room.

The staff at the practice consist of the practice manager, six dentists (one of whom is a periodontal specialist), five dental nurses, two trainee dental nurses and three receptionists.

The practice employs the services of a two part time dental hygienist who carries out preventative advice and treatment.

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.

Our key findings were:

• There were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. We found all treatment rooms and equipment appeared very clean.

• There were systems in place to check all equipment had been serviced regularly, including the suction compressor, autoclave, fire extinguishers, oxygen cylinder and the X-ray equipment.

• We found the dentists regularly assessed each patient’s gum health and took X-rays at appropriate intervals.

• The practice ensured staff maintained the necessary skills and competence to support the needs of patients.

• The practice kept up to date with current guidelines and was led by a proactive and forward thinking management team.

• At our visit we observed staff were kind, caring, competent and put patients at their ease.

• We reviewed four comment cards that had been completed by patients. Patients felt they received very good care in a clean environment from a helpful and friendly practice team.

Practice staff took part in oral health promotion initiatives within the local community which encouraged children to maintain good oral health and visit the dentist regularly.