We carried out this announced inspection of Wedgwood House Dental Practice 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 two specialist dental advisers.

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

Wedgwood House Dental Practice is a well-established practice based in Stowmarket that provides both private and NHS treatment to patients of all ages. The dental team includes four dentists, one hygienist, seven dental nurses, four receptionists and three practice managers who serve about 6,700 patients. The practice has four treatment rooms and is open on Mondays to Fridays from 8.30am to 5.30pm.

There is ramp access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs, and disabled toilet facilities.

The registered manager at Wedgwood House Dental Practice is the principal dentist and owner. 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.

On the day of our inspection we collected 47 comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with two other patients. This information gave us a very positive view of the practice and the staff who worked there.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, three dental nurses, and one of the practice managers. We looked at the practice’s policies and procedures, and other records about how the service was managed.

Our key findings were:

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise and report incidents and near misses. All opportunities for learning from internal and external incidents were maximised.

• Premises and equipment were visibly clean, secure, properly maintained and kept in accordance with current legislation and guidance.

• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and competent staff. Members of the dental team were up-to-date with their continuing professional development and supported to meet the requirements of their professional registration

• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for protecting adults and children.

• 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.

• The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported, and worked well as a team.

• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.

We spoke with six patients who were attending a dental appointment on the date of our inspection. Three patients gave consent for us to observe the care they received. All patients told us that they were happy with the standard of care provided and that staff treated them with dignity and respect. One patient told us, "I have been coming to this practice for years and so has my family. The service is a good one." Another patient said, "I did have a complaint in the past but this was dealt with to my satisfaction."

We found that the practice had appropriate procedures in place to prevent the spread of infection. Staff demonstrated a good knowledge of infection control. Staff had also been trained to understand their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.

We found some gaps in staff records and the provider told us that they would be addressing this as a matter of priority, especially where CRB (criminal records bureau) checks had not been sought for staff who had direct contact with patients.

An appropriate complaints policy and procedure was in place. We saw that where incidents had occurred, patients had been provided with transparent information and that the issue had been dealt with to the satisfaction of the complainant.