We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 19 January 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

Priory Park Dental Practice provides primary dental care and treatment to patients whose care is funded through the NHS and to a small number of patients who pay privately. The service is jointly owned by Dr Jaco Craig and another principal dentist. The practice employs five associate dentists, two hygiene therapists, five dental nurses and two trainee dental nurses. There is also a practice manager and five reception and administrative staff. In addition, the practice employs the services of a management advisor. The practice opens 8am to 5.30 pm on Mondays, 8am to 8pm Tuesday to Thursday and closes at 4.30 on a Friday.

We received feedback from 43 patients either in person or via CQC comments cards from patients who had visited the practice in the two weeks before our inspection. The cards were all positive showing that patients valued the service they received and several said they would or had recommended it to friends or members of their family. Patients said that staff put them at their ease, were caring, involved them in decisions and provided good treatment outcomes.

Our key findings were:

• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was well maintained

• The practice had access to emergency equipment and this included an automated external defibrillator and medical oxygen. Emergency medicines were in line with the British National Formulary (BNF) guidance for medical emergencies in dental practice.
• The training, learning and development needs of staff members were assessed and staff were supported to receive professional development.
• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice although some improvements were needed to strengthen quality improvements in relation to incidents, radiology audits and patient feedback.
• Staff worked well as a team and had clearly identified roles and responsibilities.
• A complaints process was in place and this was managed effectively so that learning and improvement took place.

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

• Review the storage and signage of the emergency equipment and the oxygen cylinders.
• Review the process used by staff for reporting incidents and accidents so that potential risks to patient safety can be minimised and learning shared with staff.
• Review the availability of equipment to manage medical emergencies giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK).
• Review the recruitment policy so that guidelines are clear in relation to obtaining employee references.
• Consider installing a hearing loop at the premises.
• Consider adding information about obtaining emergency care out of hours on the practice website.
• Strengthen the audit process for radiography so that the results are analysed and used to identify learning and improve practice.
• Review the process used for patient surveys and questionnaires to ensure that the results are used to improve the service.

People told us they were treated with respect whenever they attended the surgery and that the practice keeps them informed about various dental treatments. They said that they had made independent choices about what their treatment after they had discussed this with the dentist. People made positive comments about the cleanliness and tidiness of the practice and told us they were made welcome by all of the staff whenever they had attended the surgery.