We carried out this announced inspection on 07 March 2019 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it caring?

• Is it responsive to people’s needs?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

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

Surrenden Dental Practice is in Preston, near Brighton, East Sussex and provides private treatment to patients of all ages.

The practice is accessible via a ramp for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Parking spaces for blue badge holders are available close to the practice.

The dental team includes two principal dentists, one dental hygiene therapist, one dental hygienist, three dental nurses, three receptionists and a practice manager. The practice has three treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a partnership and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers 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 registered manager at Surrenden Dental Practice was one of the principal dentists. 

We collected feedback about the practice from 108 patients.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentists, two dental nurses, one receptionist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

• Monday to Thursday from 8am to 6pm
• Friday from 8am to 5pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
• The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• Staff were providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported; and worked well as a team.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice staff dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The practice staff had suitable information governance arrangements.

During our inspection we spoke with five patients. We spoke with six staff; these were the practice manager, the two dentists, two dental nurses and one of the receptionists.

We also took information from other sources to help us understand the views of people who used the service, which included a patient satisfaction survey and staff meeting minutes.

The patients we spoke with told us they thought they received good dental treatment from the dentists. One patient told us “The dentist here is very good. He always takes the time to explain everything to me”. Another patient told us “I really value the service we get here. I have total confidence in the dentist”.

The practice was following appropriate guidance in relation to infection control and the staff were well trained and supported. A member of staff we spoke with told us “I have just started the role as infection control champion and the practice is operating in line with current guidance. Our infection control here is really good”.

The practice had systems in place to assess and monitor the service and effectively deal with complaints when necessary.