Knowle Smile Spa

Updated 16 December 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the practice was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

We inspected Knowle Smile Spa on 20 October 2016. The inspection was carried out by a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector and a dental specialist advisor.

Prior to the inspection we reviewed information we held about the provider from various sources. We informed NHS England that we were inspecting the practice. We also requested details from the provider in advance of the inspection. This included their latest statement of purpose describing their values and objectives and a record of patient complaints received in the last 12 months.

During the inspection we toured the premises, spoke with the provider, the practice manager, the second dentist, the hygienist and two dental nurses. We also reviewed CQC comment cards which patients had completed and spoke with patients. We reviewed a range of practice policies and practice protocols and other records relating to the management of the service.

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 December 2016

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 20 October 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

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

Knowle Smile Spa is a dental practice providing general dental services on a NHS and private basis. The practice also offered dental implants and orthodontic treatment. The service is provided by two dentists (one of whom is the provider) and a hygienist. They are supported by two dental nurses, a practice manager and a receptionist. All of the dental nurses also carry out reception duties.

The practice is located near local amenities and bus routes. There is wheelchair access to the practice and car parking facilities. The premises consist of a waiting room, a reception area, toilet facilities, a decontamination room and three treatment rooms on the ground floor. The first floor comprises of storage rooms, an office, kitchen, staff room and toilet facilities. There is also an area for developing X-rays on the ground floor. There is a basement and this holds the compressor (pressure vessel equipment). The practice is open between 9am and 5:45pm on Monday to Thursday, and between 9am and 5pm on Fridays.

The provider is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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.

Twenty-two patients provided feedback about the practice. We looked at comment cards patients had completed prior to the inspection and we also spoke with three patients. The information from patients was overwhelmingly complimentary. Patients were positive about their experience and they commented that staff were gentle and caring and the practice was always immaculate.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was organised and appeared clean and tidy on the day of our visit. Many patients also commented that this was their experience.
• Patients told us they found the staff very caring and friendly. Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed.
• Infection control standards met national guidance.
• The practice had systems to assess and manage risks to patients, including health and safety, safeguarding, safe staff recruitment and the management of medical emergencies.
• Dental professionals provided treatment in accordance with current professional guidelines.
• Staff received training appropriate to their roles.
• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was well maintained.
• The practice had an effective complaints system in place and there was an openness and transparency in how these were dealt with.
• Staff told us they felt well supported and comfortable to raise concerns or make suggestions.
• Practice meetings were used for shared learning.
• The practice regularly undertook audits in infection control, radiography and dental care record keeping.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review the practice’s procedures that identify the servicing and testing requirements of the X-ray equipment to ensure these are carried out in a timely manner.
• Review the X-ray equipment and consider fitting a rectangular collimator to any new X-ray equipment that is installed in future. This was already present on some of the equipment at the practice but not all due to the old design of some of the equipment.
• Review the practice’s procedures for identifying and repairing any defects in the cabinetry in the treatment rooms.