The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Meavy Way Dental Practice

45 Crownhill Road, Crownhill, Plymouth, Devon, PL5 3AL (01752) 773412

Provided and run by:
Mr. Ralph Peter Smith

All Inspections

20 November 2023

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 20 November 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 advisor.

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 appeared 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 manage risks for patients, staff, equipment and the premises. Improvements could be made when considering individual clinicians risk associated with dental sharps and patient dental referrals to hospital.
  • 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, but improvements could be made to ensure procedures are followed.
  • Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
  • Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Staff took care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
  • Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
  • The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
  • The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
  • There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Staff felt involved, 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 practice had information governance arrangements.

Background

Meavy Way Dental Practice is in Plymouth and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is step free access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, are available near the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with access requirements.

The dental team includes 7 dentists (including 1 principal lead dentist), 2 dental nurses, 7 trainee dental nurses, 1 dental hygienist, 1 receptionist and a practice manager. The practice has 7 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with the dentist on duty, dental nurses, trainee dental nurses, the receptionist, practice manager and the principal dentist. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.

The practice is open: 8am – 5pm Monday to Friday.

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

  • Improve the practice’s sharps procedures to ensure the practice is in compliance with the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.
  • Improve the practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure accurate, complete and detailed records are maintained for all staff.
  • Implement a system to ensure patient referrals to hospital are centrally monitored to ensure they are received in a timely manner and not lost.

15 April 2019

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced inspection on 15 April 2019 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

Meavy Way Dental Practice is in Plymouth and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including spaces for blue badge holders, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes eight dentists, seven dental nurses, two trainee dental nurses, two dental hygienists, a practice manager, a trainee practice manager and a receptionist (all dental nurses also act as reception staff). The practice has seven treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who was 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 31 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with two other patients. This gave us a positive view of the practice.

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

The practice is open: Monday to Friday 8.30am – 5.30pm.

Our key findings were:

  • The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
  • The practice staff 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 staff 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 practice was providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
  • The appointment system met patients’ needs.
  • The practice had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
  • 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 staff dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
  • The practice staff had suitable information governance arrangements.

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

  • Review the current staffing arrangements to ensure all dental care professionals are adequately supported by a trained member of the dental team when treating patients in a dental setting taking into account the guidance issued by the General Dental Council. Where immediate chair side support is not provided risk assessments should be considered.

  • Review procedures and policies for any resumption of conscious sedation services, taking into account guidelines ‘Conscious Sedation in Dentistry,’ published by SDCEP (2017).

22 May 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with four people receiving treatment from different dentists at this practice. People described their dentist as "very good", "on the ball", "put you at ease", dentist is really good". Other comments about the practice included "we've been pleased", big practice they are very nice here". Everyone confirmed appointments were available to suit them. People told us everything was explained and the dentists discussed treatment options. Everyone said they were asked for their consent and involved in their treatment plan.

People's treatment needs were assessed carefully. Treatment was provided effectively by experienced and qualified staff. There were systems in place to provide care in the event of a medical emergency. Medicines were managed apropriately to keep people safe.

People who used this service and staff were protected from identifiable risks of acquiring an infection because the operation of systems provided to prevent the spread of infections was designed in accordance with the guidance from the Department of Health primary care dental practice.

Staff were qualified and had the skills and experience to carry out their jobs. They were registered with relevant professional bodies which meant they were able to carry out their respective jobs. The quality of the service provided was audited and monitored by the staff, the provider and externally by other regulatory bodies.

We found the provider managed complaints appropriately and in a timely manner.

9 October 2012

During a routine inspection

When we visited Meavy Way Dental Practice we met with the service provider, the practice manager, two of the dentists and three other staff on duty. We spoke with two people who were visiting for examination or treatment, and spoke by phone with six other people who used the service.

People who spoke with us had been well satisfied with the service overall. 'They're excellent,' said one person. 'I can't praise them enough. The dentist explains everything, and the reception staff are polite and helpful.'

People told us they had been given written treatment plans, with advice about how much their treatment would cost.

People said they could get appointments quickly, and rarely had to wait long when they came for their appointment. People appreciated receiving text messages to remind them when their appointment was due.

We looked round the practice and saw how the premises and the equipment were kept clean and hygienic. We looked at documents that showed how well the regular checks were carried out to demonstrate that all systems worked efficiently.

We found that the arrangements in place to store medication were not in accordance with professional guidance, which could potentially put people at risk of unsafe use of medicines.