Updated 26 July 2022
We carried out this announced focused inspection on 27 June 2022 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 practice 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.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we usually ask five key questions, however due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to reduce time spent on site, only the following three questions were asked:
• 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:
- The dental clinic was visibly clean and well-maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available, though we noted that one medicine was not being stored in the fridge as per recommendations, and its expiry date had not been reduced to allow for this.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
- The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
- Patients were treated with dignity and respect and staff took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
- The dental clinic had information governance arrangements.
Background
The provider has 19 practices and this report is about Seven Dental Practice.
Seven Dental is in Hyson Green Nottingham and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Seventeen of the treatment rooms are located on the ground floor with easy access to them for people with mobility difficulties. Car parking spaces are available near the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with additional needs.
The dental team includes one specialist oral surgeon, two oral surgeons, nineteen general dentists, thirty dental nurses, including twenty trainee dental nurses, twelve receptionists and four practice management staff. The practice has twenty treatment rooms.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, three dental nurses, the practice Manager, the Registered Manager, the Clinical Quality Care Manager and the Group Practice Manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Improve the practice's protocols for medicines management and ensure all medicines are stored and dispensed of safely and securely.
- Improve the security of NHS prescription pads in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor their use.
- Take action to ensure audits of radiography are undertaken at regular intervals to improve the quality of the service. The practice should also ensure that, where appropriate, audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.