We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 8 March 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

Regent Street Orthodontics is situated on the third floor of a building close to Nottingham city centre. The practice was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in April 2015. The practice provides orthodontic services to both NHS and private patients, with approximately 95% receiving NHS orthodontic treatment.

The practice’s opening hours are: Monday to Friday: 8 am to 4:15 pm apart from Wednesday: 8 am to 6 pm. The practice is closed at the weekend.

Access for urgent treatment outside of opening hours is by ringing the practice and following the instructions on the answerphone message. Alternatively patients should ring the 111 telephone number for access to the NHS emergency dental service.

The principal orthodontist is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.

The practice has three orthodontists; three dental nurses and one practice managers. Dental nurses also work on the reception desk

We received positive feedback from 49 patients about the services provided. This was through CQC comment cards left at the practice prior to the inspection. We did not speak with any patients in the practice on this occasion as there were no appointments taking place.

Our key findings were:

• Patients made positive comments about the orthodontic services provided and identified they were treated with dignity and respect.
• The layout of the practice contributed to patients’ confidentiality being maintained.
• There were systems and processes to record accidents, significant events and complaints, and where learning points were identified these were shared with staff.
• There was a whistleblowing policy and procedures, and staff were aware of these procedures and how to use them. All staff had access to the whistleblowing policy.
• Records showed there were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• The practice had the necessary equipment to deal with medical emergencies, and staff had been trained how to use that equipment. This included oxygen and emergency medicines.
• The practice followed the relevant guidance from the Department of Health's: ‘Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM 01-05) for infection control.
• Policies and procedures at the practice were kept under review.
• Patients were involved in discussions about the care and treatment on offer at the practice.
• Treatment options were identified, explored and discussed with patients.