We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 23 February 2017 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

Wetheral Dental Practice provides private dental treatment to patients of all ages and a small NHS contract for the treatment of children. The practice's NHS contract is now an all comers contract that enables children to receive NHS funded treatment after they turn 18 years of age.

The services include preventative advice and treatment and routine restorative dental care. A very small number of domiciliary visits are undertaken for long standing patients who can no longer attend the surgery.

The staff consists of one dentist, a dental hygienist, three qualified dental nurses and a receptionist who is a dental nurse in training. The principal dentist is supported by a locum dentist who works just for this practice.

The practice is in Wetheral, a small village on the outskirts of Carlisle, and is based in a converted building which has recently undergone refurbishment. The practice has one surgery on the ground floor, a decontamination room, a waiting room and a reception area. There is limited access to patients with disabilities. The property was converted to a dental surgery in 2005. At this time the planning department would not allow a ramp to be added because of the terrace layout and the door to kerb dimensions. A portable ramp is available for patients who cannot manage the steps into the building.

The opening hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm and Wednesday 12.00pm – 6.00pm.

The principle dentist is the registered manager. 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.

Our key findings were:

• The premises were visibly clean and tidy.
• The practice had procedures in place to record and analyse significant events and incidents.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, and knew the process to follow to raise concerns.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, skilled staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies, and emergency medicines and equipment were available.
• Patients’ needs were assessed, and care and treatment were delivered, in accordance with current legislation, standards, and guidance.
• Patients received information about their care, proposed treatment, costs, benefits, and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Staff were supported to deliver effective care, and opportunities for training and learning were available.
• Patients were treated with kindness, dignity, and respect.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients, and emergency appointments were available.
• Services were planned and delivered to meet the needs of patients, and reasonable adjustments were made to enable patients to receive their care and treatment.
• The practice gathered the views of patients and took their views into account.
• Staff were supervised, felt involved, and worked as a team.
• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice, and for the delivery of high quality person centred care.