We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 12 February 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

Soho Dental Care is located in the London Borough of Westminster and provides private and NHS dental services. The demographic of the practice was mainly working professionals who worked in the area where the practice was located.

The staff structure of the practice comprises of a principal dentists, a dentist, a practice manager, a dental nurse and a receptionist.

The premises consists of one treatment room which also houses the administrative area, a dedicated decontamination area and an area housing the X-ray machine. The practice has access to a shared waiting area that is also used by other tenants of the building it is located in.

The practice was open Monday, Tuesday, and Fridays 09.30 – 5.30pm.

One of the principal dentists was the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.

Before the inspection we sent Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice. We did not receive any comment cards back but spoke with two patients on the day of the inspection. The feedback we received for patients gave a positive view of the services the practice provides. The patients commented that the quality of care was good.

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

Our key findings were:

• There were effective processes in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with best practice guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Delivering Better Oral Health.
• Patients were involved in their care and treatment planning.
• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties and equipment was well maintained.
• Staff were trained in and there was appropriate equipment for them to respond to medical emergencies.
• Patients told us that staff were caring and treated them with dignity and respect.
• Patients indicated that they felt they were listened to and that they received good care from a helpful and caring practice team.
• There were processes in place for patients to give their comments and feedback about the service including making complaints and compliments.

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

• Review the practice’s protocols for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment giving due regard to guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society.

• Review recruitment procedures to ensure accurate, complete and detailed records are maintained for all staff.