Widney Dental Care

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 1 June 2023 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’s infection control procedures did not always reflect published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Not all required life-saving equipment was available. Missing items were ordered following our inspection.
• The practice had systems to manage risks for patients, staff, equipment and the premises.
• 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.
• 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. However, systems needed to be improved to ensure patient referrals to other dental or health care professionals were received in a timely manner and not lost.
• 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.
• There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement. However, there was scope for improvement in relation to the infection control audit.
• 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.

Background

Widney Dental Care is in Solihull and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

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

The dental team includes 9 dentists, 1 foundation dentist, 11 dental nurses (including 4 trainee dental nurses), 2 dental hygienists, 2 receptionists, a treatment coordinator, 1 support member of staff and a practice manager. The practice has 6 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 3 dentists, 2 dental nurses (one of whom was the clinical lead) and 1 receptionist. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

• Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 6pm
• Friday from 8.30am to 5pm

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

• Improve 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, and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’. In particular, ensuring treatment trays are appropriately pouched, and single use healing abutments and metal impression trays are removed after use.

• Implement an effective system of checks of medical emergency equipment and medicines taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council.

• Implement a system to ensure patient referrals to other dental or health care professionals are centrally monitored to ensure they are received in a timely manner and not lost.

• Take action to ensure audits 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.