We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 15 November 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

Tarporley Dental Practice Limited is located close to the centre of Tarporley. The practice has three treatment rooms and two waiting areas. Reception, one waiting area and one treatment room are situated on the ground floor. A further waiting area and two treatment rooms are situated on the first floor, accessed by a flight of stairs. There are patient toilet facilities on both floors. There is one step at the front entrance to the practice with a handrail positioned alongside to assist patients with mobility difficulties. At the rear entrance to the practice the provider has installed a ramp to facilitate access to the practice for wheelchair users. Parking is available outside the premises and in car parks nearby.

The practice provides general dental treatment to patients on a privately funded basis. The practice opening times are Monday to Friday 8.45am to 5.15pm. The practice is staffed by three dentists, seven dental nurses, and two receptionists.

One of the principal dentists is 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.

We received feedback from 50 people during the inspection about the services provided. Patients commented that they found the practice excellent and well organised, and that staff were professional, friendly, and caring. They said that they were always given good and helpful explanations about dental treatment, and that the dentists listened to them. Patients commented that the practice was clean and comfortable.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had procedures in place to record and analyse significant events and incidents.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, and knew the processes to follow to raise concerns.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and skilled staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies; and emergency medicines and equipment were available.
• The premises and equipment were clean, secure and well maintained.
• Patients’ needs were assessed, and care and treatment were delivered, in accordance with current legislation, standards, and guidance.
• Patients received information about their care, proposed treatment, costs, benefits, and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Staff were supported to deliver effective care, and opportunities for training and learning were available.
• Patients were treated with kindness, dignity, and respect, and their confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients, and emergency appointments were available.
• Services were planned and delivered to meet the needs of patients, and reasonable adjustments were made to enable patients to receive their care and treatment.
• The practice gathered the views of patients and took their views into account.
• Staff were supervised, felt involved, and worked as a team.
• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice, and for the delivery of high quality person centred care.
• Staff followed current infection control guidelines for decontaminating and sterilising equipment; however not all routine testing was being carried out on the sterilising equipment. These tests were put in place immediately following the inspection.

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

• Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols having due regard to 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, specifically in relation to the storage in clinical areas of instruments which are no longer used.
• Review the practice’s procedures for undertaking domiciliary visits.