Updated 18 July 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 13 June 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
Gary Knowles Dental Practice is in Partington, Manchester and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.
The practice is located on the first floor of a health centre. There is lift access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. There is a car park including spaces for blue badge holders.
The dental team includes two dentists and five dental nurses who also have administrative and reception duties. The practice has two treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers 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 registered manager at Gary Knowles Dental Practice is the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection, we collected 20 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. Patients were positive about all aspects of the service the practice provided.
During the inspection we spoke with both 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, Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5.30pm
Wednesday 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 3pm
Friday 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm
Our key findings were:
- The premises were clean and well maintained.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The practice had systems to help them identify and manage risks to patients and staff.
- The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
- Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
- Staff were providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- The provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider had systems to deal with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the practice's protocols for completion of dental care records taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.
- Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices (In particular: foil ablation tests for the ultrasonic cleaner and systems to clean the water purifier collection vessel).
- Review the systems in place to track and monitor the use of NHS prescription pads.