We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 14 June 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

Peppermint Dental Centre offers a range of services including general dentistry, implants and cosmetic surgery to privately paying patients. It also provides oral surgery and conscious sedation to patients referred and funded by the NHS.

The practice consists of two principal dentists, two associate dentists, three visiting oral surgeons, a hygienist and six dental nurses. They are supported by a practice manager and receptionist.

The practice opens Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 5.30pm, on some Saturdays by appointment.

The practice manager is the registered manager for the service. 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.

We spoke with three patients during our inspection and also received 25 comments cards that had been completed by patients prior to our inspection. We received many positive comments about the practice’s modern and clean facilities, and the staff’s skills and caring attitude.

Our key findings were:

• We received consistently good feedback from patients about the quality of the practice’s staff and the effectiveness of their treatment.

• The practice had systems to help ensure patient safety. These included safeguarding children and adults from abuse, maintaining the required standards of infection prevention and control, and responding to medical emergencies.

• Premises and equipment were clean, secure, properly maintained and kept in accordance with current legislation and guidance.

• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and competent staff. Members of the dental team were up-to-date with their continuing professional development and supported to meet the requirements of their professional registration.

• Patients said they were treated with respect staff and were involved in decisions about their treatment.

• The practice provided a good range of dental services to meet patients’ needs, including dental implants, cosmetic dentistry and conscious sedation.

• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with urgent appointments available the same day. They also reported it was easy to get through to the practice on the phone.

• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. Staff enjoyed their work citing good team work, support and training as the reason.

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

• Review governance systems to assess, monitor and improve safety in relation to incident reporting, medicines management, stock control, fire, the storage of cleaning materials and safeguarding.

• Review the practice’s protocols for the use of rubber dams for root canal treatment giving due regard to guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society

• Review the practice’s sharps handling procedures and protocols to ensure they are in compliance with the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013

• Review staff awareness of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and ensure all staff are aware of their responsibilities under the Act as it relates to their role.
• Review the practice’s protocols for conscious sedation, giving due regard to the Department of Health (England) guidance document,’ Conscious sedation in the provision of dental care 2003’.

• Review the practice's protocols for completion of dental records giving due regard to guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice regarding clinical examinations and record keeping.

• Review the practice’s audit protocols of various aspects of the service, such as radiography and dental care records to help improve the quality of service.