The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Archived: University Dental Centre

9 Northcourt Avenue, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 7HE (0118) 975 9660

Provided and run by:
Dr. Andrew Cumming

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

18/12/2015

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 18 December 2015 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

The University Dental Centre is a dental practice providing mainly NHS treatment for both adults and children. The practice is situated in a purpose built centre adjacent to a medical practice near Reading University. The practice has four dental treatment rooms and a separate decontamination room used for cleaning, sterilising and packing dental instruments. The practice is based on the ground floor enabling level access throughout.

The practice employs four dentists, five dental nurses and a receptionist. Two dental nurses are qualified and registered with the General Dental Council and the other three are undergoing training. The practice’s opening hours are 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday.

The practice owner is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

Before the inspection we sent Care Quality Commission comment cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice. We collected 45 completed cards and obtained the views of 17 patients on the day of our visit. These provided a positive view of the services the practice provides. All of the patients commented that the quality of care was good. Three patient comments were less than favourable about time to wait for an appointment and postponed appointments.

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 18 December 2015 as part of our planned inspection of all dental practices. Our inspection was carried out by a lead inspector and a dental specialist adviser.

Our key findings were:

  • Staff had been trained to handle emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment was readily available in accordance with current guidelines.
  • The practice was visibly clean and well maintained.
  • Infection control procedures were robust and the practice followed published guidance.
  • The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place for safeguarding adults and children living in vulnerable circumstances.
  • Staff reported incidents and kept records of these that the practice used for shared learning.
  • Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with general professional and other published guidance.
  • The practice placed an emphasis on the promotion of good oral health and provided regular oral health instruction to patients.
  • The practice had enough staff to deliver the service.
  • Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and were supported in their continued professional development.
  • Staff we spoke with felt well supported by the registered manager and were committed to providing a quality service to their patients.
  • Information from 45 completed CQC comment cards and patients who were asked their views of the service on the day of our visit gave us a positive picture of a friendly, caring and professional service.

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

  • Establish a system for recording the checks of expiry dates of emergency medicines and equipment.
  • Arrange for a more suitable central storage location for emergency medicines and equipment and obtain syringes and needles to deliver emergency adrenalin.
  • Establish a system for auditing dental care records.
  • Re-establish the auditing of the quality of dental X-rays.
  • Use the NHS treatment planning forms (FP17DC) as appropriate to help underpin the consent process.
  • Consider using rubber dam during root canal procedures.
  • Repair the floor seal in the practice toilet.
  • Ensure registered nurses have medical indemnity insurance in place.
  • Take notes of discussion and actions resulting from staff meetings.
  • Respond to patient feedback posted on NHS Choices website.

3 December 2014

During a routine inspection

When we visited the practice on 10 September 2014, we found patients and staff were not protected from the risk of unsafe or unsuitable equipment. X-ray machines had not been serviced and certified safe to use and local rules for the use of x-ray equipment were not in place. We issued a warning notice in respect of this.

During this inspection we found the practice had taken effective action and achieved compliance.

X-ray machines had been appropriately serviced. The two x-ray machines that had not passed their safety tests had been taken out of use. The remaining three machines had been certified safe to use and local rules had been drawn up for their use.

Dentists had received radiography training at appropriate intervals and dental nursing staff were aware of the requirement to undertake radiography training during their five year training cycle.

Appropriate notification to the Health and Safety Executive of the use of x-ray equipment was undertaken following our visit.

10 September 2014

During an inspection looking at part of the service

During this inspection we checked to see whether improvements had been made following our last inspection in March 2014. We looked at fire safety equipment and procedures, x-rays and sterilisation maintenance records. We spoke with staff about their support, training and supervision. We looked at staff records to check whether information required for clinical staff to practice was available and being monitored.

Staff told us they felt well supported to perform their roles. Staff had records of appraisals and essential training provided by the practice. Since the last inspection checks on staff had been undertaken to identify any concerns that could affect their ability to work with patients safely.

We found that fire extinguishers' servicing records were within their date of expiry. Staff told us they received training in fire safety and undertook evacuation practise. X -ray equipment was not maintained appropriately. There was no evidence that servicing took place on any X-ray equipment. Equipment intended to measure staffs' exposure to radiation was not used properly.

5, 21, 27 March 2014

During an inspection in response to concerns

We carried out this inspection as a result of receiving concerning information about the absence of effective recruitment procedures and lack of staff training at the practice. We also received concerning information about the frequency of maintenance and servicing of essential health and safety equipment.

We spoke with staff and management and looked at records of training and recruitment. Staff were happy working at the practice and said they felt well supported. One staff member told us, 'I like working here, people are friendly and helpful'. Another staff member said, 'I have had a chance to grow. I have taken professional courses that help me in my work.'

On our first visit on 5 March 2014 we found there were no records available for examination in relation to recruitment and training. The provider said the records were unavailable and were missing from the practice. On the two subsequent visits the provider had made an attempt to get copies of essential documents and had developed new recruitment and training records. However, there were a number of essential documents missing from staff files including disclosure and barring checks and core training certificates that had a potential to increase risk to people who use the service.

We examined records in relation to the maintenance and servicing of equipment. We saw that not all essential equipment had been serviced so that it was in safe and useable condition.

27 June 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with patients about the quality of care provided by the practice. They were complimentary about services provided and commented 'They are good dentists. You can rely on them to provide the best treatment'. 'This practice is particularly good with children'.

Clear information was provided to people about possible treatment options and the various costs involved. People told us they felt well informed and involved in discussions about their treatment plan. They said the dentist always explained the risk and benefits of specific treatments and provided details of the expected outcome. Records and documentation for people who use the service was up-to-date and appropriately stored. Medical and dental information was accurately documented.

The premises were clean and well organised and staff routinely followed infection control procedures when carrying out treatments. Staff received appropriate training to enhance their knowledge and skills and to keep them up-to-date.

Patients said they felt their opinions mattered to the practice. They were regularly asked for their views about the quality of services

21 February 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with three patients by telephone, who told us they were happy with the quality of care they received at the practice. One person said "they are brilliant", "my children attend regularly and are a bit nervous, however the dentist puts them at ease". They said "I have recommended the practice to friends". People told us the dentist always explained treatment options and the costs involved. They told us all of the staff appeared friendly and approachable.

We found consent was sought from patients before any treatment was provided. People were informed about their treatment options and given information about the risks and benefits of treatment. The practice did not have effective infection control measures in place and the premises and equipment was not satisfactorily maintained to ensure people's health and safety. Staff were provided with necessary training but were not appraised or supervised. Systems to monitor customer satisfaction and act on feedback received to improve the service, were not effective and risks to patients and staff were not risk assessed or managed.