Brentfield Dental Centre

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 16 May 2022 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 practice 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 a specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we usually ask five key questions, however due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to reduce time spent on site, only the following three questions were asked:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

Our findings were:

• The dental clinic was visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and staff took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
• Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
• The dental clinic had information governance arrangements.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available. However, not all medical emergency equipment was regularly checked to ensure that it was in date and suitable for use.
• The practice had some systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff. Improvements were needed to ensure that risk related to legionella or other bacteria developing in the water were identified, assessed and mitigated.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines. However, improvements were needed to ensure dental care records were legible and complete, and information related to patient care was suitably recorded.
• The practice had staff recruitment procedures which broadly reflected current legislation. However, improvements were needed to ensure that documentation in relation to the persons employed were monitored and maintained appropriately.

Background

Brentfield Dental Centre is in Neasden, in the London Borough of Brent, and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice. The practice had made reasonable adjustments to support patients with additional needs.

The dental team includes one principal dentist, one qualified dental nurse, one trainee dental nurse and one receptionist. The practice has two treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with the dentist, the qualified dental nurse and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Thursday 9am to 5.30pm.

Friday 9am to 3.30pm.

Saturday from 9am to 1.30pm by appointment only.

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

Full details of the regulation the provider was not meeting are at the end of this report.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Implement an effective system to ensure documentation in relation to recruitment is recorded and maintained appropriately.
• Improve the systems for assessing, monitoring and mitigating risks arising from sharps use within the service.
• Take action to ensure that the practice stores up to date records relating to management of regulated activities in compliance with the legislation.