We carried out this announced inspection on 15 June 2017 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 a specialist dental adviser.

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

Wimbledon Orthodontic Practice is in Wimbledon and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. The practice was near a large shopping area so parking was available in nearby car parks. Alternatively there were good public transport links.

The dental team includes six orthodontists, seven orthodontic nurses, a head nurse, two dental therapists, a business manager, a practice manager, two administrators and three receptionists. The practice has five treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They 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 inspection we collected 42 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with two orthodontists, three orthodontic nurses, one receptionist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: 9.00am to 5.30pm Mondays, 9.00am to 6.30pm Tuesday to Thursdays and 8.00am to 5.00pm on Fridays.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• 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 appointment system met patients’ needs.
• 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.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

We spoke to three people who use the service who were generally positive about the attitude, care and treatment that they received from the practice team.

People told us that their treatment was explained to them and they were given information about the cost of treatment prior to work starting. People told us their privacy was respected and the practice was always clean and comfortable.