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

Ruddington Dental Practice is situated on the ground floor of premises close to the centre of Ruddington, a village on the southern outskirts of Nottingham. The practice was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in August 2013. The practice provides regulated dental services to patients in the Ruddington and West Bridgeford areas of Nottingham. The practice provides mostly private dental treatment. Services provided include general dentistry, dental hygiene, crowns and bridges, and root canal treatment.

The practice is open: Monday: 9 am to 5:30 pm; Tuesday: 9 am to 6 pm; Wednesday: 9 am to 7 pm; Thursday: 9 am to 5:30 pm; Friday: 9 am to 5 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. NHS patients should ring the 111 telephone number.

The practice has two dentists, one of whom is the principal dentist and owner of the business. There is also one part time dental hygienist, five dental nurses, and one trainee dental nurse. Three of the dental nurses also worked on reception.

We received positive feedback from five patients about the services provided. This was through CQC comment cards left at the practice prior to the inspection and by speaking with patients in the practice. All of the feedback was positive.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had recorded accidents, significant events and complaints, and learning points were identified and shared with staff.
• When necessary apologies were given to patients when things had gone wrong.
• All staff had received whistle blowing training and were aware of these procedures and how to use them. All staff had access to the staff handbook which contained the whistleblowing policy.
• Patients spoke very positively about the dental service they received.
• Patients said they were treated with dignity and respect.
• Records showed there were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies.
• There was the necessary equipment to deal with medical emergencies.
• The practice followed the relevant guidance from the Department of Health's: ‘Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM 01-05) for infection control.
• Patients’ care and treatment was planned and delivered in consultation with the patient and recall intervals are in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Patients said they were involved in making decisions about their treatment, and patient care records reflected this.
• Options for treatment were identified and explored and discussed with patients.
• Patients’ confidentiality was maintained.