Updated 24 March 2020
We carried out this announced inspection on 17 February 2020 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 Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector who was supported by two specialist dental advisers.
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
Cornerhouse Dental Care – Elstree is in Elstree, Hertfordshire and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.
The practice is located on the first floor of a listed building on the high street. There are handrails available to use on the steps in to the building, however it is not wheelchair accessible. Free car parking is available on the streets surrounding the practice.
The dental team includes three dentists, a hygienist and a dental nurse. They are supported by a receptionist/administrator and a cleaner. The practice has two treatment rooms and a separate decontamination room.
The practice is registered as an organisation and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run. The registered manager at Cornerhouse Dental Care - Elstree is one of the principal dentists.
On the day of inspection, we received feedback from 50 patients.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, the hygienist and the receptionist/administrator. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Thursday from 7.45am to 5.30pm.
Friday from 7.45am to 12.30pm.
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. Most of the appropriate medicines and pieces of life-saving equipment were available, however the emergency kit was missing the correct formulation of midazolam, certain sizes of clear face masks and an oropharyngeal airway. The practice took immediate action and ordered the correct formulation of midazolam and the missing items during the inspection.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- 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.
- 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. Staff spoke openly about how much they enjoyed working at the practice.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.