We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 1 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 High Street - Cheadle is part of the Integrated Dental Holding Ltd (IDH) Dental Group the largest dental care provider in Europe. The practice is situated on the high street centre of Cheadle village and provides a range of NHS and private dental services for patients in and around the Stockport area.

There is a reception desk, a waiting room, a treatment room and an adapted toilet located on the ground floor. There are two further treatment rooms and a dedicated decontamination room on the first floor.

The practice had one full time and two part time dentists. They were supported by six dental nurses, a receptionist and a practice manager.

The practice is open Monday 9am to 6.30pm, Tuesday to Friday 9am to 5pm. The practice is closed at the weekend.

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.

Before the inspection we sent Care Quality Commission comment cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice. We received feedback from 21 patients who all gave positive comments about the care and treatment they received at the practice.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had a dedicated safeguarding lead with effective safeguarding processes in place for child protection and safeguarding adults who may be vulnerable.

• Infection control procedures were in accordance with the published guidelines. However the ‘dirty’ sink in the decontamination room was damaged

• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.

• There was appropriate equipment and access to emergency drugs to enable the practice to respond to medical emergencies. This included an automated external defibrillator. Staff had been trained to manage medical emergencies.

• The practice carried out oral health assessments and planned treatment in line with current best practice guidance, for example from the Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP). Patient dental care records were detailed and clearly showed on-going monitoring of patients’ oral health.

• Patients commented they felt involved in their treatment and that it was fully explained to them.

• Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed. There were clear instructions for patients regarding out of hours care.

• The dental practice had effective clinical governance and risk management structures in place. There were systems to monitor and continually improve the quality of the service; including through a programme of clinical and non-clinical audits.

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

• Review the safety of the damaged sink in the decontamination room .

• Review and where necessary update risk assessments.