The Thatched House Dental Practice

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations and had taken into consideration appropriate guidance.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Assessing needs is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

Patients told us they were given clear information to help them make an informed choice about their treatment and any associated costs. They were involved in decisions about their care. One patient told us, ‘I highly recommend this dental practice to everyone. The dentist takes the time to explain everything thoroughly and find the best solutions.’ Another patient told us, ‘Very good with nervous patients. Explained procedures needed and associated costs. Very caring and compassionate’ Patients told us that when they were prescribed medicines, sufficient information was given. Patients told us that they were supported to maintain their oral health and were provided with appropriate information and resources. One patient told us, ‘The dentist is very caring and proactive, he fully explains what needs to be done and why, taking pictures and showing me what the issues are. They are proactive in talking me through my options with zero pressure to take any course of action - just a great medical practitioner! The dentist also gives me tips and ideas to improve my oral health outside of the chair, which is another example of great proactive care.’

The provider had systems to ensure that people who used the service received person-centred care and treatment that was appropriate, met their needs and was reflective of their personal preferences. The dentists confirmed, where applicable, they referred patients to a range of specialists in primary and secondary care for treatment the practice did not provide. Staff told us how they kept up to date with current evidence-based practice. The practice provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health. Staff felt the practice supported them to develop and enabled them to take on lead roles and responsibilities. Staff worked together and with other health and social care professionals to deliver effective care and treatment. Staff demonstrated their understanding of the need to obtain patients’ consent to care and treatment in line with legislation and guidance. They understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Staff described how they involved patients’ relatives or carers when appropriate and made sure they had enough time to explain treatment options clearly.

Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles. The practice had systems to keep dental professionals up to date with current evidence-based practice. Risks associated with the use of dental instruments while undertaking endodontic treatment had been identified and mitigated. The practice could review the protocols for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment, taking into account guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society, as rubber dam was not routinely used for this treatment. The practice offered conscious sedation for patients. The practice’s systems included checks before and after treatment, emergency equipment requirements, medicines management, sedation equipment checks, and staff availability and training. We looked at 4 patient care records. The information recorded in these patient care records was in line with recognised guidance. Staff obtained patients’ consent to care and treatment in line with legislation and guidance. They understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. We saw evidence the dentists justified, graded and reported on the radiographs they took. The practice had systems for the safe handling and prescribing of medicines. Prescription pads were kept securely. Improvements were required to ensure there were systems in place to track and monitor the use of prescription pads to prevent fraudulent misuse. Following feedback, the practice implemented a log to monitor and track the use of prescriptions. Staff worked together and with other health and social care professionals to deliver effective care and treatment. The practice had systems for referring patients with suspected cancer under the national two-week wait arrangements.

The judgement for How staff, teams and services work together is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Supporting people to live healthier lives is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Monitoring and improving outcomes is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Consent to care and treatment is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.