Archived: The Dental Practice Evesham

We carried out this announced inspection on 31 August 2017 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

The Dental Practice Evesham is located in a Georgian building in a small commercial area of Evesham. The practice provides predominantly private treatment to patients of all ages with a small provision for NHS treatment mainly for children.

The main entrance is accessed via two steps to the main door and then a further small step into the reception and waiting area. There is level access via a side door for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. The ground floor of the practice consists of a reception area with a large waiting room, one dental treatment room and a staff room with kitchen and toilet facilities for staff and patients with limited mobility. On the first floor there are two dental treatment rooms, a large waiting room, a patient toilet and a decontamination room for the cleaning, sterilising and packing of dental instruments. Car parking is not available on site, but public parking is available within short walking distance of the practice. This includes spaces for disabled patients who are blue badge holders. Alternatively the practice is on a bus route with bus stops just a few yards from the front door.

The dental team includes two dentists, two dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse, one decontamination room assistant / cleaner, one dental hygienist and two receptionists. The practice has three treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. He has a 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 27 CQC comment cards filled in by patients, looked at the comments book in the practice, satisfaction survey results and friends and family test results. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, one dental nurse, one decontamination room assistant / cleaner, the dental hygienist and one receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday: 9am - 5.15pm

Tuesday: 9am - 8pm

Wednesday: 9am - 5.15pm

Thursday: 8.45am - 5.15pm

Friday: 8.30am - 1pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available, with the exception of a size four oropharyngeal airway which was immediately ordered.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures, a recruitment policy was required to underpin the procedures and ensure that two references were retained on personnel files.
• 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 appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership. 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 dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.