We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 23 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

Saifee Dental Care is located in the London Borough of Brent and provides private dental treatment to both adults and children. The premises are on the ground floor and consist of one treatment room, a reception area and a dedicated decontamination room. The practice is open Monday and Thursday 9:00am – 2:30pm, Wednesday 9:00am – 3:00pm and Saturday 9:00am – 4:00pm.

The staff consists of the principal dentist, one associate dentist, a trainee dental nurse and two dental nurses one of whom is the practice manager.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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 reviewed 24 CQC comment cards and the practice patient satisfaction survey. Patients were positive about the service. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the staff.

The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist advisor.

Our key findings were:

• We found the dentists regularly assessed each patient’s gum health and took X-rays at appropriate intervals.
• Patients were involved in their care and treatment planning so they could make informed decisions.
• There were effective processes in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.
• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and child protection
• Equipment, such as the autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• The practice had implemented clear procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.
• Patients indicated that they found the team to be efficient, professional, caring and reassuring.
• Patients had good access to appointments, including emergency appointments, which were available on the same day
• Leadership structures were clear and there were processes in place for dissemination of information and feedback to staff.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

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

• There were appropriate equipment and access to emergency drugs to enable the practice to respond to medical emergencies. Staff knew where equipment was stored.
• Review the current Legionella risk assessment and implement the required actions including the monitoring and recording of water temperatures, giving due regard to the guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance
• Review its complaint handling procedures and establish an accessible system for identifying, receiving, recording, handling and responding to complaints by patients.
• Review the practice’s arrangements for receiving and responding to patient safety alerts, recalls and rapid response reports issued from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and through the Central Alerting System (CAS), as well as from other relevant bodies such as, Public Health England (PHE).
• Review the storage of records related to people employed and the management of regulated activities giving due regard to current legislation and guidance.

Patients of the dental practice told us that they had been treated with respect and dignity. They expressed satisfaction with the care and treatment provided. The practice had a policy for ensuring that patients were treated with respect and dignity.

Patients made positive comments about staff and indicated that they had confidence in the dentist and other staff who attended to them. Detailed assessments and treatment plans had been prepared for patients. Treatment options had been explained to them and had been given with their agreement and written consent.

The premises were clean and well maintained. There were arrangements for infection control checks and tasks. Staff were knowledgeable regarding infection control and decontamination procedures for equipment and instruments used. There was documented evidence that equipment used had been maintained and inspected by specialist contractors.