Cranfield Dental Practice

We carried out this announced inspection on 17 November 2021 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 Care Quality Commission, (CQC), inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

As part of this inspection we asked the following questions

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• 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 this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Cranfield Dental Practice is situated on the high street in a small village in Bedfordshire and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The practice is situated on the first floor in a converted detached 1930s house and there is a stairlift available for patients, unable to manage the stairs, to access the practice. Car parking spaces are available at the rear of the practice.

The dental team includes two dentists, and five dental nurses including three trainees. The practice has two treatment rooms, and a dedicated decontamination room.

The practice is owned by an individual who is 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.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, and three dental nurses. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm

Friday from 9am to 4pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation. However, we found that the policy had not always been followed.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.

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

• Implement an effective recruitment procedure to ensure that appropriate checks are completed prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice. In particular ensuring satisfactory evidence of conduct in previous employment (references) and identification checks are completed for newly recruited staff in line with the practice’s recruitment policy.
• Take action to ensure the suitability of the premises and ensure all areas are fit for the purpose for which they are being used. In particular ensuring five yearly electrical fixed wire testing is completed.