We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 8 October 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.

Background

The practice mainly provides primary care dental services to private patients. It also provides treatment on the NHS.

The practice is open: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9am to 5.30pm. It is closed on Wednesdays.

There is one dentist, one dental nurse who was also the practice manager and a trainee dental nurse. Both nurses also worked in reception. A dental therapist also worked at the practice for two days a week.

The owner of the practice is the registered provider for the practice. 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.

We spoke with five patients on the day of the inspection many of whom had been with the practice for a number of years. All the comments were positive about the staff and the services provided. Comments included: all staff are professional, friendly and helpful.

Our key findings were:

• There was an effective complaints system.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report it.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to manage medical emergencies.
• Infection control procedures were in accordance with the published guidelines.
• Patient care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines and current regulations.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• Patents could access routine treatment and urgent care when required.
• The practice was well-led and staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The governance systems were effective.
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided.

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

• Register to receive all relevant patient safety alerts and follow up on any relevant alerts.
• All policies should be reviewed and updated where appropriate.
• Develop a monitoring system to check the practice is effectively cleaned..

Set up a system to ensure the practice is regularly assessed for the risk of legionella.

As part of our review, we spoke with three people who was at the practice for treatment when we visited and spoke with two people on the telephone following our visit.

28 surveys were returned to us from people who used the service telling us their views about the Dental Practice and the service they had received.

Comments included:

“I am a very nervous person so going to the dentist is very traumatic for me, here they make me feel comfortable and give me plenty of time’’.

“They treat you very well, they are welcoming, friendly and very supportive’’.

“I would not go any where else, they care about you as a person not just a patient, excellent service’’.

Other comments about the service provided have been included in the main body of the report.

As part of the review, we look at other information and observe the interaction with people and the staff.

We saw when people came into the practice, that staff were polite and friendly.

We saw records relating to the treatment and assessments undertaken by the dentist to ensure the dentist had the relevant information about each individual.

The information we obtained from our contact with people and the surveys returned to us, told us in general people were happy with the treatment they received.