We carried out this announced inspection on 24 April 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

The Dental Practice is in the centre of Northallerton and provides private dental treatment to adults and children. Parking is available outside the practice with access to public transport nearby.

The practice has surgeries on the ground and first floor and access for people who use wheelchairs (via a portable ramp) and those with pushchairs.

The dental team includes one dentist, one hygienist and three dental nurse/receptionists. The practice has two treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They 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 practice is part of an accredited scheme.

On the day of inspection, we collected 86 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. All the comment cards were extremely positive about the service and care received.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, one dental nurse and one dental nurse/receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday–Thursday 8:30am-5:30pm and Friday 9am-1pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures in place.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available. The Glucagon was stored in a fridge, which did not have temperatures regularly monitored.
• The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The practice had staff recruitment procedures in place.
• 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 provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The provider asked patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.

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

• Review the practice's protocols for monitoring and recording the fridge temperature to ensure that medicines and dental care products are being stored in line with the manufacturer’s guidance.