We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 11 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

Ripley Family Dental Centre is situated over two floors of a building close to the centre of Ripley in north Derbyshire. The most recent registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is dated January 2014. The practice provides regulated dental services to patients from Ripley and the surrounding area. The practice provides mostly NHS dental treatment. Services provided include general dentistry, dental hygiene, crowns and bridges, and root canal treatment.

The practice is open: Monday to Friday 9am to 6 pm and Saturday 9 am to 3 pm (by appointment only) This information is from the practice website. Access for urgent treatment outside of opening hours is by ringing the practice and following the instructions on the answerphone message. Alternatively NHS patients should ring the 111 telephone number. There is an out-of-hours dental service in Alverston in Derby. Patients ringing the practice answerphone will be directed to this service.

The practice manager is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.

The practice has five dentists, three of whom are the partners who own the practice and business. There are five dental nurses one of whom also worked on reception. There were two trainee dental nurses, one part time hygienist, a further receptionist and one practice manager.

We received positive feedback from 75 patients about the services provided. This was through CQC comment cards left at the practice prior to the inspection and by speaking with patients in the practice.

Our key findings were:

• There were systems in place to record accidents, significant events and complaints, and any learning points from them were identified and shared with staff.
• The records showed that apologies had been given for any concerns or upset that patients had experienced at the practice.
• There was a whistleblowing policy and procedures and staff were aware of these procedures and how to use them. All staff had access to the whistleblowing policy.
• Patients spoke positively about the dental services they received.
• Patients said they were treated with dignity and respect.
• Records showed there were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• The practice did not have an automated external defibrillator (AED) for use in an emergency situation.
• Apart from the AED the practice had the necessary equipment for staff to deal with medical emergencies, and staff had been trained how to use that equipment. This included oxygen and emergency medicines.
• The practice followed the relevant guidance from the Department of Health's: ‘Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM 01-05) for infection control.
• Patients’ were involved in discussions about the planning and delivery of care and treatment. Patient recall intervals were in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.
• Treatment options were identified, explored and discussed with patients.
• Patients’ confidentiality was maintained.

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

• Consider purchasing an automated external defibrillator (AED). Resuscitation Council UK guidelines suggest the minimum equipment required includes an AED and oxygen which should be immediately available.

Consider installing a hearing loop as a reasonable addition as identified in the Equality Act (2010).