The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Stotfold Dental Practice - Stotfold

5 The Avenue, Stotfold, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 4LY (01462) 731938

Provided and run by:
SAAB Professional Ltd

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

We had previously undertaken a comprehensive inspection of Stotfold Dental Practice - Stotfold on 13 May 2024 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We found the registered provider was not providing safe and well-led care and was in breach of regulations 17 and 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. We undertook a follow up off site assessment on 26 June 2024. This assessment was carried out to review the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements. We found the practice had met regulations. Recruitment procedures now reflected current legislation and there was now effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement. Stotfold Dental Practice is in Stotfold and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children. At the time of our assessment, the dental team included 3 dentists, 5 dental nurses, 1 trainee dental nurse, 3 dental hygienists, 1 practice manager and 1 deputy practice manager. The practice had 3 treatment rooms. During the assessment we spoke with the practice owner who is also a dentist, the practice manager and the deputy practice manager.

During an assessment under our new approach

We carried out this on-site announced assessment on 13 May 2024. We found the practice had not met all regulations. Infection control procedures followed published guidance. Patients were treated with dignity and respect, and their care and treatment was provided in line with current guidance. At the time of our assessment, patients could access care, support and treatment when required. There was, however, a lack of effective leadership and not all risks associated with undertaking of regulated activities had been suitably identified and mitigated. We noted that recruitment procedures did not reflect current legislation. Stotfold Dental Practice is in Stotfold and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children. At the time of our assessment, the dental team included 3 dentists, 5 dental nurses, 2 trainee dental nurses, 3 dental hygienists, 1 practice manager and 1 deputy practice manager. The practice had 3 treatment rooms. During the assessment we spoke with 2 dentists, 1 hygienist, 2 trainee dental nurses, 1 dental nurse, the practice manager and the deputy practice manager. The provider was not complying with all regulations. Full details of the regulations the provider was not meeting are within the quality statement section of the report. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.

4 March 2014

During an inspection looking at part of the service

When we inspected the service on 02 October 2013 we found that people were not protected from the risk of infection because appropriate guidance had not always been followed. During our inspection on 04 March 2014 we found that appropriate actions had been taken. No staff wore their uniform or special footwear outside of the service's premises. We saw that proper cleaning schedules had been introduced for each treatment room and that the treatment rooms and the decontamination room had been cleaned effectively.

When we inspected the service on 02 October 2013 we found that the provider did not have an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people received. During our inspection on 04 March 2014 we saw that the service had updated its leaflet to include details of how people could make comments or complaints about the service.

We noted that there were blank questionnaires on a table in the waiting area. These asked people for their opinions about the service that they had received and for their suggestions as to improvements that could be made. We looked at a selection of the forms that had been completed in the period November 2013 to February 2014. We noted that the majority of the comments made were very positive. One comment read, "Continue as you currently do."

2 October 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service. They said that the dentists had spent time discussing the treatment options available to them and the costs involved. One person said, "They explained the different options for me and explained the cost of each option. I decided on my treatment."

People told us that they were extremely happy with the treatment that they had received. One person described the service as, "...brilliant." Another said, "The dentists are very good with the treatments."

Each nurse was provided with three uniforms and was expected to wear a freshly laundered uniform every day. Both dentists also wore fresh surgical scrubs every day. We spoke with two of the practice nurses who explained the cleaning processes they completed at the start of the day, between people being treated and at the end of the day.

The manager told us that three of the five dental nurses were trainees and attended college on a weekly basis. They also attended many training courses organised by the service. The dentists and dental nurses had completed the required levels of continuous professional development (CPD).

The manager told us that the service did not undertake surveys of people who used the service to identify their satisfaction levels and areas for improvement. We saw that where audits had been undertaken action plans to address areas for improvement had not been completed. There was no information as to how to make a complaint available in reception.