Updated 29 October 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 28 August 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 not 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
Levine & Leslie Dental Surgery is in Leeds and provides private treatment to adults and children.
There is level access via a portable ramp for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.
The dental team includes the principal dentist, an associate dentist, two dental nurses, a dental hygienist and a receptionist. 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 Levine & Leslie Dental Surgery is the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection, we collected 10 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.
During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, one dental nurse, a locum dental nurse and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:30pm
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared clean.
- Improvements could be made to the process for ensuring equipment is maintained appropriately.
- Improvements could be made to the infection control procedures to bring them fully in line with published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. The contents of the medical emergency kit did not reflect nationally recognised guidance.
- Improvements could be made to the risk management process associated with the carrying out of the regulated activities.
- The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- Improvements could be made to 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.
- Staff provided preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- 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 suitable information governance arrangements.
We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:
- Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.
- Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
Full details of the regulations the provider was not meeting are at the end of this report.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the practice protocols regarding auditing patient dental care records to check that necessary information is recorded.