Background to this inspection
Updated
16 November 2016
We announced, comprehensive inspection on 13th October 2016. The inspection took place over one day. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector. They were accompanied by a dental specialist advisor.
Prior to the inspection we reviewed information we held about the provider. We also reviewed information we asked the provider to send us in advance of the inspection. This included their latest statement of purpose describing their values and objectives, a record of any complaints received in the last 12 months and details of their staff members together with their qualifications and proof of registration with the appropriate professional body.
During our inspection visit, we reviewed policy documents and staff training and recruitment records. We obtained the views of two members of staff.
We conducted a tour of the practice and looked at the storage arrangements for emergency medicines and equipment. We were shown the decontamination procedures for dental instruments and the systems that supported the patient dental care records. We obtained the views of three patients on the day of our inspection. Patients gave positive feedback about their experience at the practice.
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 therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.
Updated
16 November 2016
Background
Macrocare Dental Health is a dental practice providing private and NHS treatment for both adults and children. The practice is based in a bespoke building in Woking town centre which is very close to the train station. The practice has three dental treatment rooms; though currently the practice is only using one room. There is a separate decontamination facility used for cleaning, sterilising and packing dental instruments. The practice is accessible to wheelchair users, prams and patients with limited mobility. The practice employs one dentist, one dental nurse, one receptionist and one practice manager. The practice’s opening hours are between 9am and 6pm Monday to Friday. There are arrangements in place to ensure patients receive urgent medical assistance when the practice is closed. This is provided by the principle dentist who is the practice owner. The practice owner is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons 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 obtained the views of 41 patients from comment cards and spoke with three patients on the day of our inspection.
Our key findings were:
• We found that the practice ethos was to provide patient centred dental care in a relaxed and friendly environment.
• Leadership was provided by the principle dentist who was the practice owner.
• Staff had been trained to handle emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment was readily available in accordance with current guidelines.
• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was well maintained.
• Infection control procedures were of a high standard and the practice followed published guidance.
• The practice owner acted as the safeguarding lead with effective processes for safeguarding adults and children living in vulnerable circumstances.
• There was a process for the reporting and shared learning when untoward incidents occurred in the practice.
• Dentists provided dental care in accordance with current professional and National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
• The service was aware of the needs of the local population and took these into account in how the practice was run.
• Patients could access treatment and urgent and emergency care when required.
• Staff received training appropriate to their roles and were supported in their continued professional development (CPD) by the practice owner.
• Staff we spoke with felt very well supported by the practice owner and were committed to providing a quality service to their patients.
• Feedback from 41 completed Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards gave us a positive picture of a friendly, caring, professional and high quality service.
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There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should: