Updated 27 February 2023
We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 25 January 2023 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 practice was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission, (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 5 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:
- The dental clinic was visibly clean and well-maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
- The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
- Patients were treated with dignity and respect and staff took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
- Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
- The dental clinic had information governance arrangements.
Background
Park House Dental Practice is in Accrington, East Lancashire and provides NHS and some private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.
The dental team includes 2 principal partner dentists, 8 associate dentists, 2 foundation dentists, 18 dental nurses, some of whom are trainees, 1 dental therapist and a further practice partner who oversees all non-clinical areas and practice management. The practice has 10 treatment rooms.
During the inspection we spoke with 2 dentists, a foundation dentist, 2 dental nurses, 2 nurses working on reception on the inspection day and the practice manager partner (referred to throughout this report as the practice manager). We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8am to 4pm; on Tuesday from 8am to 7pm and on Friday from 8am to 12pm.
We noted innovative approaches to providing person centred care. For example:
- The provider stepped forward as a practice in the area that would accept and treat all looked after children in the locality. This meant that children moving from foster care to adoption, or those taken into care, will be seen by one dentist, in one place, for as long as they need to be under dental treatment as a child. The practice have further committed to supporting local young people when they leave care, providing continuity of dental care and treatment.
- The practice principal dentists support local care homes in the area. Where staff have concerns about any residents which may be linked to oral health matters, they can call one of the two practice principals who will provide advice, initial triage and will see the patient if they can be brought to the practice. The practice principals have also delivered some basic training on guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) (NG48) which sets standards around provision of oral health care for people living in a care home setting. The practice are aware that by doing this, the need for patients to be referred to secondary care can be reduced.