The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Woodford Green Dental Centre

80 Snakes Land East, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 7QQ (020) 8502 9966

Provided and run by:
Dr. Promodh Datta

All Inspections

25 October 2019

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced inspection on 25 October 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 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

Woodford Green Dental Centre is in the London Borough of Redbridge. The practice provides NHS and private dental treatments to adults and children.

The practice is located close to public transport services. The practice is located on the ground and first floor of a purpose adapted building and has four treatment rooms, two of which is located on the ground floor.

The dental team includes the principal dentist, five associate dentists, four dental nurses and one trainee dental nurse. The clinical team are supported by a practice manager.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

We collected feedback from 72 patients who completed CQC comment cards.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, one associate dentist, two dental nurses, one receptionist / dental nurse and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open between:

10am and 7pm on Mondays.

8.30 am and 5pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Friday.

9am and 5pm on Thursdays.

The practices closes daily between 1pm and 2pm for lunch

Our key findings were:

  • The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
  • The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
  • Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Some items of emergency equipment were not available on the day. These were ordered and procured promptly and were available for use.
  • The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff. Improvements were needed to the systems to ensure that the effectiveness of staff vaccinations against vaccine preventable infectious diseases is checked.
  • The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
  • The provider 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. Improvements were needed to the arrangements for assessing and providing adjustments to meet the needs of people with disabilities.
  • Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
  • The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
  • The provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
  • Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
  • The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
  • The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.

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

  • Take action to ensure that all clinical staff have adequate immunity for vaccine preventable infectious diseases.
  • Review the practice protocols regarding audits for prescribing antibiotic medicines, taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.
  • Take action to ensure the service takes into account the needs of patients with disabilities and to comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.   

9 September 2014

During an inspection looking at part of the service

At our last inspection on 29 January 2014 the provider did not have available all the information required about people it employed to provide treatment and care to patients to demonstrate they are of good character, have the necessary qualifications, skills and experience, and are physically and mentally for the work.

The provider wrote to us on 17 March 2014 about action it would take to become compliant with the essential standard by 01 May 2014.

At our inspection on 09 September 2014 we found the provider was meeting the essential standard. The provider had completed new Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for all staff and had verified the identity, entitlement to work in the UK, qualifications, and professional registration and indemnity where relevant for each member of staff.

The provider had put in place a system to ensure all required information, including employment histories, references and health screening checks, was held on record for all new employees.

We did not speak to patients as part of this inspection because of the nature of the compliance actions we were following up.

29 January 2014

During a routine inspection

We spoke to four people who used the service. They all told us that they had been asked to provide consent to treatment. All told us that they had signed various forms to confirm they agreed to the treatment.

One person who spoke with us said "I have been looking for a dentist for a very long time and when you feel they do care it is very important, they are very helpful and efficient." Another person said "I have a serious illness and today the dentist made a special effort so I do not have to keep coming back. They are fantastic; there is always a good atmosphere." Another said "I can not complain they have been lovely, especially with the kids."

The four people we spoke with who use the service told us that when they visited the clinic it was clean. Three people told us that the dentist and dental nurse always wore gloves and masks when providing treatment. The provider had an infection control policy in place which provided directions on areas such use of protective equipment, decontamination, sterilisation, handwashing and clinical waste.

The provider did not have effective recruitment procedures in place to ensure that staff employed were suitable for the roles to be undertaken.