Updated 1 August 2017
We carried out this announced inspection on 5 June 2017 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection in response to concerns raised to the CQC in order 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
Olney Dental Centre is in the town of Olney, Buckinghamshire and provides private treatment to patients of all ages.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available at the rear of the practice.
One dentist worked at the practice and was supported by a pool of eight dental nurses and five receptionists, who work across all five practices owned by the company.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. At the time of the inspection the practice did not have a registered manager in post. Following the inspection we were informed that the process of appointing a registered manager had commenced.
On the day of inspection we collected 29 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, one dental nurse and one receptionist as well as the manager of the company. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the practices protocol for ensuring staff immunity to Hepatitis B and adequately assessing and mitigating the risk therein when immunity cannot be assured.
- Review the systems in place to meet the needs of patients with hearing difficulties or of those patients who do not speak or understand English.