We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 22 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

Warwick Lodge Dental Practice is a dental practice situated in a converted property in Thorpe Bay, Essex. The practice has three treatment rooms, two waiting rooms and a reception area. Decontamination takes place within treatment a dedicated decontamination room (Decontamination is the process by which dirty and contaminated instruments are bought from the

treatment room, washed, inspected, sterilised and sealed in pouches ready for use again).

The practice offers private dental treatments to adults and children. The practice specialises in dental implants, orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery and oral medicine. Patients can either self-refer or may be referred by their primary dental care practitioner.

The opening hours of the practice are 8.45am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. Appointments are available between 8am and 1pm on Saturdays according to patient demand. The practice offers a 24 hour on call system for patients who require emergency dental treatment when the practice is closed.

The practice has a principal dentist, a specialist oral surgeon, six associate dentists with specialist skills in areas including endodontics, orthodontics and oral medicine. The practice also has five dental nurses, two dental hygienists and two receptionists and a practice manager.

The practice is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. The principal dentist is the ‘registered person’. 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 28 patients who completed CQC comment cards prior to our inspection visit. We also spoke with two patients during the inspection visit. Patients made positive comments about the excellent care and treatment that they received and access to appointments that suited their needs. They also commented positively about the cleanliness of the premises, the kindness and responsiveness of staff. Patients said that staff explained treatment plans to them in a way that they could easily understand.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had systems in place for investigating and learning from complaints, safety incidents and accidents. Staff were aware of their responsibilities to report incidents.
• The practice was visibly clean and clutter free. Infection control practices were reviewed and audited to test their effectiveness.
• There were systems in place to help keep people safe, including safeguarding vulnerable children and adults. Staff had undertaken training and were aware of their roles and responsibilities in relation to this.
• Risks to the health, welfare and safety of patients and staff were regularly assessed and managed. These included risks in relation to fire, legionella and risks associated with premises and equipment.
• The practice reviewed and followed guidance in relation to dentistry.
• The practice had the recommended medicines and equipment for use in the event of a medical emergency and staff were trained in their use. Records were maintained in respect of the checks carried out for these medicines and equipment.
• Staff were supported, supervised and undertook training in respect of their roles and responsibilities within the practice.
• Patients reported that they were treated with respect and that staff were polite and helpful.
• Patients were involved in making decisions about their care and treatments.
• Effective governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the service.
• Audits and reviews were carried out to monitor and improve services. Learning from audits and reviews was shared with relevant staff and action plans were developed to secure improvements where these were identified.
• Patient’s views were sought and these were used to make improvements to the service where these were identified.

There were no people at the practice at the time of our inspection that were able to speak with us. However, we looked at the provider’s patient satisfaction survey in order to obtain their views. The results showed a very high level of satisfaction with the treatments and service received.