We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 10 March 2017 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

Sherwood Dental Practice provides mainly NHS dental treatments to patients of all ages but also offers private treatment options. The providers also operate under a separate registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) using the same building, facilities and staff. This report will make references to Sherwood Dental practice but this inspection only relates to the services provided by Sherwood Dental Practice – Mr S Ali and Miss F Alam.

Sherwood Dental Practice has eleven dentists, including the practice owner and principal partner and a foundation dentist, a dental therapist, a dental hygienist, nine qualified dental nurses who are registered with the General Dental Council (GDC), four trainee dental nurses, five receptionists (two of whom are also registered dental nurses), a practice manager and an assistant manager. The practice’s opening hours are 8.30am to 5pm on Tuesday and Thursday and 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The practice is closed for one hour at lunchtime each day.

The practice has four dental treatment rooms on the ground floor and five on the first floor. Sterilisation and packing of dental instruments takes place in a separate decontamination room. There is a reception with adjoining waiting area on the ground floor and a separate waiting area on the first floor.

Before the inspection we sent Care Quality Commission comments cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice. We received comments from 83 patients by way of these comment cards and during the inspection with spoke with four patients who gave positive feedback about the practice.

Our key findings were

• Systems were in place for the recording and learning from significant events and accidents.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).
• The appointment system met the needs of patients and waiting times were kept to a minimum.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• 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.