We carried out this announced inspection on 31 October 2017 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.

We told Healthwatch that we were inspecting the practice. They did not provide any information.

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

The Dental Hygiene Suite is in Truro and provides private direct access dental hygiene services to patients of all ages.

The practice treatment room was on the ground floor but involved some small steps to reach it. Therefore it was not suitable for wheelchair users. Car parking spaces were available in nearby public car parks.

The staff team comprises of the company directors, who are the dental hygienist and the practice manager/receptionist. No additional staff are employed. The practice has one treatment room.

The practice is owned by a company 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 The Dental Hygiene Suite was the dental hygienist.

We collected ten CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with the dental hygienist and practice manager/receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday 9am – 5.30pm. Tuesday 8.30am – 5pm. Wednesday 8am – 5pm. Thursday 1pm – 7pm. Friday 8.30am – 4pm. Saturday 9am – 1pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures, which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The dental hygienist followed current guidelines for the assessment of and delivery of treatment.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership. The directors of the business worked well as a team.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice has not received any complaints.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Review availability of equipment such as an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to manage medical emergencies taking into account guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK), and the General Dental Council (GDC) standards for the dental team. A risk assessment should be undertaken if a decision is made to not have an AED on-site.
• Review the current staffing arrangements to ensure all dental care professionals are adequately supported by a trained member of the dental team when treating patients in a dental setting, taking into account the guidance issued by the General Dental Council.