The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Holloway House Dental Surgery

The Holloway, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 5PB (01643) 703071

Provided and run by:
Dr Ajith George Behanan

Important: The provider of this service changed - see old profile

All Inspections

25 November 2021

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 25 November 2021 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 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 asked the following three questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• 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 this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Holloway House Dental Surgery is in Minehead and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The practice is not suitable for patients with limited mobility due to steps to access and internal steps. If patients contact the practice to discuss mobility needs the staff team can advise how they can assist or direct to a more accessible practice. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes three dentists, five trainee dental nurses, one dental hygiene therapist, one patient manager and a receptionist/trainee dental nurse. The practice has four 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.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, one dental hygiene therapist, two trainee dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse/receptionist and the patient manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday – Thursday 8.30am – 5.30pm

Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm.

Our key findings were:

  • The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
  • The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
  • Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
  • The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff. However, the fire risk assessment needed updating and there was no system in place for checking that equipment used and provided by a visiting specialist was validated and in working order.
  • The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
  • The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
  • 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.
  • Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
  • The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
  • The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
  • The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
  • The provider had information governance arrangements.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

  • Take action to review the practice's fire safety risk assessment and ensure ongoing fire safety management is effective.
  • Improve the practice's systems for checking and monitoring equipment taking into account relevant guidance and ensure that all equipment is well maintained. In particular, equipment brought onto site by the visiting dentist.

22 August 2014

During a routine inspection

This was the provider's first inspection since their registration of this service. We saw they had commenced a programme of improvements to the service. We looked at the plans they had drawn up to expand the services they offered; these included a dental hygienist surgery and a specific surgery for dental implants.

We looked at eight patient records and spoke with eight patients who visited the practice during our inspection. We spoke with all the staff on duty on the day of our inspection. We looked at the provider's website and the NHS Choices website to look at the information they provided for patients. We also looked, to see patient comments about the service and how the provider responded to patient feedback about their service.

The patients we met during our inspection spoke positively about the service and the staff; they told us; 'There are no 'dragons' here. The staff are kind and helpful;' and their dentist was; 'friendly and approachable.' One patient told us; 'We've been using the dentists here for over twenty years and they've always been excellent. We've no complaints.' Other patient comments from patient feedback letters included; 'Thank you for being so patient with such a nervous patient;' and 'Thanks for being so welcoming and looking after us so well.'

We saw information was provided about the service in the reception and waiting areas of the practice. The cost of treatment through the NHS was available and information about oral health was provided. Information for patients was also available on the provider's' website. Patients told us they were involved in all aspects of their treatment and knew the cost of treatment they received as it was on their treatment plan.

Treatment was provided following a full mouth assessment and discussions with the patient. The choices available to the patient were explained, recorded and a treatment plan was signed to show patients agreed to the treatment planned. The patients we spoke with told us they were happy with the treatment provided and experienced no unnecessary pain.

The surgery and treatment rooms appeared clean and tidy. One patient told us, 'It's always clean and tidy here and the gradually updated decoration makes it even better'. Whilst another patient told us, 'The staff always wear protective clothes like gloves and glasses when they treat me.' The dental nurses ensured the surfaces in the surgeries were cleaned between patients as well as at the end of each day. Dental equipment was cleaned in a way which demonstrated compliance with current Department of Health guidelines and checks were made to ensure faulty or damaged equipment was replaced.

Recruitment had been carried out in a way which ensured staff were suitably knowledgeable and experienced to fulfil their role. All clinical staff were registered with the General Dental Council. All staff had received basic skills training during their induction period which included first aid and awareness in hygiene and infection control practices. On-going staff support and development was encouraged and a programme of annual appraisal had been implemented.

The practice had a dual patient record system which currently included paper recording and computer based records. The registered manager who had taken over the practice seven months ago told us they planned to have all patient records recorded on the computer system within the next six months. The records we looked at were accurate and fit for purpose. Records relating to the running of the practice were up to date and routinely updated.