We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 26 July 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

Oaksmere Dental Surgery is situated in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. It offers mainly NHS treatment to patients of all ages but also offers private dental treatments. The services include preventative advice and treatment and routine restorative dental care.

The practice has two surgeries, a decontamination room, a waiting area and a reception area. The reception area, waiting area, toilet facilities and one surgery are on the ground floor. The other surgery is on the first floor.

There is one dentist, two dental nurses, two receptionists (one of whom is also a qualified dental nurse) and a practice manager (who is also a qualified dental nurse).

The opening hours are Monday and Wednesday from 9-00am to 5-00pm, Tuesday from 9-00am to 5-00pm (surgery only from 9-00am to 1-00pm), Thursday from 9-00am to 5-00pm (surgery only from 2-00pm to 5-00pm) and Friday from 9-00am to 4-00pm.

The practice owner is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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 received feedback from 11 patients. The patients were positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice. Comments included that the staff were helpful and friendly, the practice was very clean and that they could get an emergency appointment when needed.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was visibly clean and uncluttered.
• The practice had systems in place to assess and manage risks to patients and staff including infection prevention and control and health and safety.
• Staff were qualified and received in house training.
• Some emergency resuscitation equipment was not present and one item was past its use by date.
• Patients were involved in making decisions about their treatment and were given clear explanations about their proposed treatment including costs, benefits and risks.
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).
• We observed that patients were treated with kindness and respect by staff.
• Staff ensured there was sufficient time to full explain the care and treatment they were providing in a way patients understood.
• Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed.

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

• Review the availability of equipment to manage medical emergencies giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK).
• Review the practice’s system for identifying of out-of-date equipment.
• Review the protocols and procedures to ensure staff are up to date with their mandatory training and their Continuing Professional Development.
• Review the practice’s local rules to remove the names of persons who are not qualified to carry out radiographic procedures.

We spoke privately with two people who were attending the practice for check ups or treatment. They told us that they were "very happy" with all aspects of the service. They told us that staff were "brilliant" and “very friendly". People said that the dentist always explained treatment options to them. One person told us "the dentist was very good about explaining (treatment options). He showed me the choices and I could decide." Both people that we spoke with said that they felt safe in the care of the dentist and that they found all members of the staff team polite and respectful. One person said "they are very good here. All my family come and we all like the dentist and other staff." People spoken with said that the surgery was always clean. They told us that they had no worries or concerns about the practice. One person said "I can talk to my dentist about anything. They know me very well here."

We found people received care and treatment in a clean environment with infection control measures in place to minimise the risk of infection. One person said "I've always found it very clean."

The provider had an appropriate system in place for gathering, recording and evaluating information about the quality and safety of care the service provided. People who used the service and their representatives were asked for their views about their care and treatment.