We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 15 June 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

Wall Heath Dental Practice has two dentists who own the practice, two part time hygienists, five qualified dental nurses who are registered with the General Dental Council (GDC); two of which mainly work on reception and one trainee dental nurse. The practice’s opening hours are 8.30am to 5.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8.30am to 5pm on Monday and 9.30am to 6pm on Thursday. The practice closes for lunch each day, however there is a receptionist available unless the practice is closed for a meeting.

Wall Health Dental Practice provides mainly private and a small amount of NHS dental treatment for adults and children. The practice has two dental treatment rooms; both on the ground floor. There is a separate decontamination room for cleaning, sterilising and packing dental instruments. There is also a reception with adjoining waiting area.

The registered manager was present during this inspection. 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.

Before the inspection we sent Care Quality Commission comments cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice and during the inspection we spoke with two patients. Overall we received feedback from 51 patients who provided an overwhelmingly positive view of the services the practice provides. All of the patients commented that the quality of care was very good.

Our key findings were

• Systems were in place for the recording and learning from significant events and accidents.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect.
• The practice was visibly clean and well maintained.
• Infection control procedures were in place and infection prevention and control audits were being undertaken on a six monthly basis as detailed in the Department of Health’s guidance on decontamination (HTM 01-05).
• The provider had emergency medicines in line with the British National Formulary (BNF) guidance for medical emergencies in dental practice.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies.
• The practice was well-led and staff felt involved and worked as a team.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• We received positive feedback from patients. Patients felt they received a good service from dental staff that was professional, caring and helpful.