Parkview Dental - Clapham

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 11 January 2024 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 advisor.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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:

• The dental clinic appeared 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.
• The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Staff took care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
• The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
• Staff felt involved, supported and worked as a team.
• Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
• Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
• The practice had information governance arrangements.
• There was a culture of continuous improvement.
• Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. Improvements were required to ensure accurate safeguarding referral protocols were in place.
• The practice had some systems to help them assess and manage risk. There was scope to improve these in order to align them with current guidance and legislation.
• The leadership and oversight for the day-to-day management of the service needed improvements.

Background

The provider has 2 practices, and this report is about Parkview Dental – Clapham.

Parkview Dental – Clapham is in the London Borough of Lambeth and provides private dental care and treatment for adults.

There is step free access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with access requirements.

The dental team includes the principal dentist, 1 associate dentist, 2 dental nurses and 1 receptionist. The practice has 2 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with the associate dentist, 1 dental nurse and 1 receptionist. We spoke with the principal dentist by telephone. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Tuesday and Thursday from 9.30 to 5pm (closed for lunch between 1pm and 2pm))

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

• Improve the practice's waste handling protocols to ensure waste is segregated and disposed of in compliance with the relevant regulations and taking into account the guidance issued in the Health Technical Memorandum 07-01.
• Improve the practice’s arrangements for ensuring good governance and leadership are sustained in the longer term.