Background to this inspection
Updated
17 September 2015
The inspection took place on 3 June 2015 and was carried out by a two CQC inspectors and a dental specialist advisor.
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 therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection. Prior to the inspection we asked the practice to send us some information which we reviewed. This included the complaints they had received in the last 12 months, their latest statement of purpose, the details of their staff members, their qualifications and proof of registration with their professional bodies.
We also reviewed the information we held about the practice and consulted with other stakeholders, such as NHS England area team and Healthwatch; however we did not receive any information of concern from them.
During the inspection we spoke with dentists, the practice manager, dental nurses and reception staff. We reviewed policies, procedures and other documents. We spoke with 4 patients and reviewed 24 CQC comment cards which had been completed by patients prior to the inspection.
Updated
17 September 2015
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 3 June 2015 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
1A Dental Practice Werrington employs four dentists, four dental nurses, a reception team and shares a practice manager with another location. The practice provides mostly NHS dental services and some private dental services. It opens Monday to Friday 8.30am – 5.30pm.
The practice manager 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 spoke with four patients and reviewed 24 CQC comment cards which had been completed by patients prior to the inspection. All the comments reflected positively on the staff and the services provided. Patients commented that the practice was clean and hygienic, they found it easy to book an appointment and they found the quality of the dentistry to be excellent. They said explanations were clear and that the staff were kind, caring and reassuring.
Our key findings were:
- The practice recorded and analysed significant events and complaints and cascaded learning to staff.
- Where mistakes had been made there was a policy that patients were notified about the outcome of any investigation and given a suitable apology.
- Staff had received safeguarding and whistleblowing training and knew the processes to follow to raise any concerns.
- There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
- Staff had been trained to handle emergencies; appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were readily available.
- Infection control procedures were robust and the practice followed published guidance on the majority of occasions, however, there were minor areas for improvement.
- Patient care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current legislation.
- Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
- Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
- The appointment system met the needs of patients and waiting times were kept to a minimum.
- There was an effective complaints system and the practice was open and transparent with apologies given if a mistake had been made.