We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 25 February 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

Woodbridge Dental Surgery is located in the Borough of Suffolk and provides NHS and private dental treatment to both adults and children. The premises are on the ground floor and consist of two treatment rooms, a reception area and a dedicated decontamination room. The practice is open Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm.

The practice staff consists of four dentists, one dental hygienist, two dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse and a practice manager. The principal 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.

We reviewed 19 CQC comment cards and 10 NHS Friends and Family test comment cards. Patients were positive about the service. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the staff.

The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist advisor

Our key findings were:

• There were appropriate equipment and access to emergency drugs to enable the practice to respond to medical emergencies. Staff knew where equipment was stored.

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

• The practice had an ongoing programme of risk assessments and audits which were used to drive improvement.

• Patients were involved in their care and treatment planning so they could make informed decisions.

• There were effective processes in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.

• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and child protection.

• Equipment, such as the air compressor, autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.

• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.

• The practice had implemented clear procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.

• Patients indicated that they found the team to be efficient, professional, caring and reassuring.

• All clinical staff were not up to date with their continuing professional development in line with requirements from the general dental council.

• The practice had not carried out appraisals to assess the learning and development needs of individual staff members

• The practice had not carried out recruitment procedures to ensure accurate, complete and detailed records are maintained for all staff

• The practice did not have an effective system in place to identify and dispose of out-of-date stock.

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

• Review the training, learning and development needs of individual staff members and have an effective process established for the on-going assessment and supervision of all staff.

• Review the protocols and procedures to ensure staff are up to date with their mandatory training and their Continuing Professional Development.

• Review stocks of medicines and equipment and the system for identifying and disposing of out-of-date stock.

• Review the current Legionella risk assessment and implement the required actions including the monitoring and recording of water temperatures, givingdue regard to the guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.