The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Archived: Strand-Dental

Ingram House, Liverpool Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1SU (01903) 238249

Provided and run by:
Dr. Ross Drybrough

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

10 May 2017

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out a follow-up inspection at Strand-Dental on the 10 May 2017.

We had undertaken an announced comprehensive inspection of this service on 21 December 2016 as part of our regulatory functions where breaches of legal requirements were found.

After the comprehensive inspection, the practice wrote to us to say what actions they would take to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breach.

We revisited Strand-Dental as part of this review and checked whether they had followed their action plan.

We reviewed the practice against one of the five questions we ask about services: is the service well-led? This report only covers our findings in relation to those requirements.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Strand-Dental on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Background

This inspection was planned to check whether the practice was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

The inspection was carried out to check that improvements to meet the legal requirements planned by the practice after our comprehensive inspection on 21 December 2016 had been made.

The follow-up inspection was led by a CQC inspector who had access to remote advice from a specialist dental advisor.

During our inspection visit, we checked that points described in the provider’s action plan had been implemented by looking at a range of documents such as risk assessments, staff files, policies and staff training.

Our key findings were:

  • The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance. There were systems in place to ensure that all equipment used to sterilise instruments was being validated as per national guidelines
  • The practice had systems to help them manage risk including the safe management of medicines prescribed by the practice
  • The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures and effective systems to track the training of staff to ensure that they met the requirements of their professional registration
  • There was effective leadership at the practice. Staff were motivated and worked well together as a team.

1 December 2016

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 1 December 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 not providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Strand Dental Practice is a large private practice based in Worthing providing cosmetic dentistry, implants, orthodontics and periodontics. Children are seen as NHS patients. The practice serves approximately 7500 patients and is a member of the British Dental Association Good Practice Scheme.

The practice is located on four floors. The ground floor has a reception and waiting area. The first floor has four treatment rooms, a separate decontamination room and a patient waiting area. The second floor has five treatment rooms, a separate decontamination room, X-ray room and patient waiting area. The third floor is for offices.

The large staff team consists of seven dentists, three specialists, a dental technician, ten qualified dental nurses, two trainee dental nurses and three hygienists. The practice also had an orthodontist and periodontology specialist who worked part time. The practice employs three receptionists and a full time practice manager. The principal dentist is also the registered manager. 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.

The practice is open Monday and Wednesday (closed 1-3pm on Wednesdays) from 8.30am to 8pm, Tuesday and Thursday from 8.30am to 6pm and Friday from 8.30am to 3.30pm.

The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist advisor.

We reviewed 39 completed Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards and obtained the views of 18 patients on the day of the inspection. Patients commented on the excellent, caring and professional service delivered by helpful staff who listened to their concerns. Additionally, patients told us that gentle care was provided by staff who reassured them; and that the practice was particularly good for patients with physical impairments.

Our key findings were:

  • The practice appeared visibly clean, was bright and clutter free
  • Staff were polite, friendly and kind. Staff had an excellent knowledge of their patients
  • There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties
  • Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies
  • Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed
  • Infection control procedures did not always meet published guidance
  • The governance arrangements for the practice were lacking
  • Information from 39 completed Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards gave an entirely positive picture of a friendly, caring and effective service

We identified regulations that were not being met and the provider must:

  • Ensure that all equipment used to sterilise instruments are validated as per national guidelines
  • Ensure that all actions required to minimise the risk of the spread of Legionella bacteria are completed within the necessary time frames
  • Ensure that a system of tracking the training of staff is introduced to ensure that all staff are up to date with the requirements of their professional registration

We identified areas for improvement and the provider should:

  • Review the system for checking and recording all emergency equipment on a regular basis
  • Review the system for checking that all staff have documentation to demonstrate their immunisation status
  • Review a system for logging all dispensed medicines coming in and going out of the practice

12 December 2012

During a routine inspection

We received positive comments from patients who used the service. One patient told us that staff were "Always friendly, helpful and understanding" and they were "Quite impressed". Another said to us that they were "Treated professionally".

We found that patients were involved in the treatment they were given and were able to make decisions about what treatment to have. A patient told us "I can choose if I want to go ahead". Another commented that "I am given full information about costs and treatment options".

There were robust systems in place for making sure that patients were kept safe and free from harm. Staff were aware of safeguarding responsibilities and had received training in this area.

We observed that all parts of the Practice were well maintained and clean. Infection control procedures ensured that reusable equipment was sterilised effectively and surgeries were hygienic. One patient said to us that the surgery "Always appeared clean".