Mydentist Reddish Road Stockport is part of the Integrated Dental Holding Ltd (IDH) Dental Group the largest dental care provider in Europe. The practice is situated in a residential area close to the centre of Stockport and provides a range of NHS and private dental services for patients in and around the Stockport area. There are four dentists who are supported by a practice manager, a practice support manager, five dental nurses who also share reception duties and one dental hygienist.

The practice manager is also 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 our inspection we spoke with five patients and reviewed 15 comments cards, which patients had completed in the two weeks before our visit. Feedback from patients was overwhelmingly positive about the treatment and care they received at the practice. Patients commented on how professional and understanding staff were. They told us staff were efficient, polite and considerate and always treated them with respect, kindness and understanding.

The practice is situated in a converted residential property with easy access to the front entrance. The reception desk, a waiting room and two treatment rooms are located on the ground floor. A second waiting room and another one treatment room are situated on the first floor. There is a separate decontamination room on the first floor. Toilet facilities were provided for patients on the first floor there were no disabled toilet facilities.

The practice is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm with late opening on alternate Wednesdays to  7.00pm. The practice also opens on alternate Saturdays (occasionally every Saturday depending on patient need) 8.30am until 1pm. There were notices displayed and the answer phone message provided information about accessing treatment when the practice was closed.

Our key findings were:

• There were systems in place to respond to medical emergencies and staff were trained to use emergency equipment and medicines.

• There were effective child protection and adult safeguarding procedures in place. Contact details of the local safeguarding teams were displayed in the staff break room.

• Oral health assessments and treatment were carried out in accordance with the Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP) guidance.

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

• Systems were in place to assess and manage risks to patient’s visitors and staff. These included infection prevention and control and risk management.

• The premises were visibly clean and well maintained. There were policies and procedures providing guidance on how to maintain a clean and hygienic environment. Written evidence of immunity to hepatitis B was seen in all staff files.

• Information about treatment options was provided to enable patients to make informed decisions about their treatment.
• Patients gave signed consent before treatment commenced. Patient treatment records demonstrated on-going monitoring of patients’ oral health.
• Patients were asked to provide information about their general health and any medications they were taking before treatment started.
• Patients were provided with a written copy of their treatment plan which also indicated the costs of individual treatments. A copy was retained in the patients dental care records.
• Patients were provided with information and guidance relating to good oral health in line with the Department of Health - Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit’ (DBOH).
• Staff had access to on-line training to meet their continuing professional development (CPD) requirements and had undertaken training appropriate to their roles.

As part of the inspection we spoke with 4 people who used the practice. We were told, "I have no complaints at all." One person we spoke with said, “If I have to change my appointment they are very helpful and always pleasant”

We looked at the care records of 6 people who used the practice. These showed us that peoples’ treatment had been discussed with them, and where necessary copies of their treatment plans provided.

During our visit we observed staff treating people in a kind, professional, friendly and respectful manner. The 4 people we spoke with told us that all the staff at the surgery were very helpful, pleasant and always explained everything to them in relation to their treatments.

Appropriate personal protective equipment was available in all areas of the practice. The practice had some systems in place to ensure people were cared for in a clean and hygienic environment, with a separate decontamination room that was restricted to staff only.

We were told that there was a risk assessment in place for prevention of Legionella within the service but that monitoring of water temperatures was not currently taking place. The manager accepted that this monitoring should be taking place and stated that this would be corrected immediately.