We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 7 March 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

Mydentist - Grange Road – Hartlepool is situated in Hartlepool, Cleveland. It offers mainly NHS treatment to patients of all ages but also offers private dental treatments. The services include preventative advice and treatment, routine restorative dental care, orthodontics and domiciliary care.

The practice has three surgeries, a decontamination room, two waiting areas and a reception area. The reception area, one waiting area and one surgery are on the ground floor. The other two surgeries and the second waiting area are on the second floor.

There are seven dentists (including one locum dentist), a dental hygiene therapist, six dental nurses (including one trainee), three receptionists and a practice manager. They are also supported by an area development manager and a regional manager.

The opening hours on the day of inspection were Monday 8-30am to 5-30pm, Tuesday from 9-00am to 5-30pm, Wednesday from 9-00am to 5-30pm, Thursday from 8-30am to 7-30pm, Friday from 8-30am to 5-00pm and Saturday from 8-00am to 1-00pm.

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.

During the inspection we spoke with 16 patients who used the service and reviewed 18 completed CQC comment cards. The patients were generally positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice. Comments included that the staff were helpful, friendly and courteous. Patients also commented that the environment was clean and fresh.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and hygienic.
• The practice had effective systems in place to assess and manage risks to patients and staff including infection prevention and control, health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.
• Staff were qualified and had received training appropriate to their roles.
• Dental care records were detailed and showed that treatment was planned in line with current best practice guidelines.
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit.
• Patients were treated with care, respect and dignity.
• Patients were involved in making decisions about their treatment and were given clear explanations about their proposed treatment including costs, benefits and risks.
• Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed.
• There were clearly defined leadership roles within the practice and staff told us that they felt supported, appreciated and comfortable to raise concerns or make suggestions.