Updated 28 July 2021
ThuWe carried out this announced inspection on 24 June 2021 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 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 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 are three of the five questions that form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.
Our findings were:
Are services safe?
We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services effective?
We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Pearls Dental Centre is in the London Borough of Redbridge and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children. NHS Services are provided under a General Dental Services (GDS) contract with NHS England. (GDS is one of the two contracting routes that have been made available to NHS dentists).
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. The practice is located on a busy high road and has access to London Transport and National rail services. Paid on street parking is available and includes disabled parking bays.
Pearls Dental Centre is run by Dr. Frances Oluyannwo who is the principal dentist there and is supported by two qualified dental nurses- one of whom serves as the reception staff. The principal dentist who is the responsible individual has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.
Pearls Dental Centre is registered as an organisation with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to provide the regulated activities of treatment of disease, disorder or injury, surgical procedures and diagnostic and screening procedures from 732 High Rd, Goodmayes, Ilford IG3 8SU.
The practice is open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5.30pm and Friday 9am to 3pm. Saturday opening is by appointment only.
Out of hours services, when the practice is closed are provided by the local urgent dental service. The practice has a website where patients could request appointments online.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- The arrangements in place minimised the risk of Covid-19 transmission.
- The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
- All the staff working at the practice were qualified and registered with the General Dental council (GDC).
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- Some governance arrangements needed strengthening to ensure full compliance with legislation.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Improve policies and procedures to ensure they are updated and bespoke to the practice.
- Take action to archive records for staff who no longer work at the practice.
- Improve the practice's processes for the control and storage of substances hazardous to health identified by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002, to ensure risk assessments are undertaken for all substances held on site.
- Improve the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices, in particular, the arrangements for transferring instruments.
- Improve the practice's risk management systems for monitoring and mitigating the risks, in particular those relating to fixed electrical wiring and annual electro-mechanical checks for the intra-oral X-ray equipment.
- Improve and develop the practice's policy for obtaining patient consent to care and treatment to ensure they are in compliance with legislation and take into account relevant guidance.