We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 21 March 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

West Vale Dental Surgery is situated in the West Vale area of Halifax, West Yorkshire. It offers mainly NHS treatment to patients of all ages but also offers private dental treatments. The services include preventative advice and treatment and routine restorative dental care.

The practice has three surgeries, a decontamination room, a waiting area and a reception area. All of these facilities are on the ground floor of the premises.

There are two dentists, one dental hygienist, two dental hygiene therapists, three dental nurses (including two trainees), a receptionist, a practice manager and a dental practice advisor.

The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9-00am to 5-00pm.

The practice owner is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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.

During the inspection we received feedback from 50 patients. The patients were positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice. Comments included that the staff were friendly, warm and welcoming, the premises were safe and hygienic and that treatment was well explained.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and hygienic.
• The practice had some systems in place to assess and manage risks to patients and staff including infection prevention, control and health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.
• Staff were qualified and had received training appropriate to their roles.
• Patients were involved in making decisions about their treatment and were given clear explanations about their proposed treatment including costs, benefits and risks.
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).
• We observed that patients were treated with kindness and respect by staff.
• Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed.

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

• Review the practice’s system for the recording, investigating and reviewing incidents or significant events with a view to preventing further occurrences and, ensuring that improvements are made as a result.
• Review the practice’s protocols for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment giving due regard to guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society.
• Review staff awareness of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and ensure all staff are aware of their responsibilities under the Act as it relates to their role.
• Review the availability of a blood spillage kit giving due regard to the COSHH risk assessment.
• Review the current legionella risk assessment and ensure water temperatures are above 50 degrees celcius.
• Review the practice’s waste handling policy to ensure the waste bin is securely stored giving due regard to guidance issued in the Health Technical Memorandum 07-01 (HTM 07-01).
• Review the protocols and procedures for use of the OPT machine giving due regard to guidance notes on the Safe use of X-ray Equipment.
• Review the arrangement for the use of the answering machine in the reception area.
• Review the practice's whistleblowing policy to ensure it is practice specific.
• Review the storage of dental care records to ensure they are stored securely.
• Review the practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure references for new staff requested and recorded suitably.