Archived: Regent Street Dental Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 18 August 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

Regent Street Dental Practice provides general dental treatment in Pocklington near York, North Yorkshire. The practice offers private treatment options for patients and has private dental plans available.

The practice has six surgeries, one on the ground floor and five on the first floor, a sterilisation room, a decontamination room, two waiting areas, a reception area and patient toilets. There are staff facilities on the first floor of the premises.

There are eight dentists, a specialist orthodontist, three dental hygienists, a dental hygiene therapist, 19 dental nurses (three of which are trainees, one is the practice manager and one also works as a receptionist) and two receptionists.

The opening hours are:

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 08:30 – 17:30

Tuesday 08:30 – 19:30

Saturday 08:30 – 12:30 (by appointment only)

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual registered person. 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.

During the inspection we received feedback from 14 patients. The patients were positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice and they told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be very attentive, considerate, caring and they provide a high standard of care and were always treated with dignity and respect. Comments also included that patients were unaware they could access a ground floor surgery if they had difficulty using the stairs and also were not aware of how to access emergency out of hours care.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and hygienic.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report it. They had very good systems in place to work closely and share information with the local safeguarding team.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to manage medical emergencies.
• Patient care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current regulations.
• 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.
• There was a complaints system in place. Staff recorded complaints and cascaded learning to staff.
• The governance systems were effective.
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services. There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients.

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

• Review the practice's recruitment policy and procedures are suitable and the recruitment arrangements are in line with Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 to ensure necessary employment checks are in place for all staff and the required specified information in respect of persons employed by the practice is held.
• Review the practice’s protocols for domiciliary visits; taking into account the 2009 guidelines published by British Society for Disability and Oral Health in the document “Guidelines for the Delivery of a Domiciliary Oral Healthcare Service”.