We carried out this announced inspection on 24 October 2017 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

We told the NHS England area team that we were inspecting the practice. They had no information of concern.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it caring?

• Is it responsive to people’s needs?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

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

R A Raeburn Dental Surgery is located in the London borough of Harrow and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is a ramp access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

Practice staffing consists of a principal dentist, six dentists, seven dental nurses and a receptionist

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

The practice is open Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm then 5.30pm to 8pm, Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturdays 9am to 1pm

The practice facilities include three treatment room a decontamination room, two waiting areas, reception area and a staff room.

On the day of inspection we collected feedback from 26 patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, two dentists and two dental nurses. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

Patients said they were very happy with the treatment and care provided at the practice. They told us they were provided with sufficient information about their oral health and confirmed treatment options were discussed with them. One patient described the dentist as "very good, patient and caring" and said they "explain things well".

Patients said staff were professional, kind and caring toward them. They told us staff always remembered them and greeted them by name. They confirmed they were able to choose which dentist they saw and one patient told us they had arranged their emergency appointment that day.

People told us they thought the surgery and waiting areas were clean and tidy.