Killamarsh Dental Practice - Killamarsh

We carried out this announced focussed inspection 15 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 asked the following three questions:

• 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:

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

Killamarsh Dental Practice is in the village of Killamarsh on the outskirts of Sheffield 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 dental team includes three dentists, one dental hygienist, four dental nurses and one receptionist. The practice has two treatment rooms, both are located on the ground floor.

The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC as the registered manager. Registered managers have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run. The registered manager at Killamarsh Dental Practice is the practice manager.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, three dental nurses, and the provider. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday: 9am to 4pm

Tuesday: 9am to 7pm

Wednesday and Thursday: 9am to 5pm

Friday: 8:30am to 3:30pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The provider had implemented standard operating procedures in line with national guidance on COVID-19.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff had not had sepsis awareness training.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The security of NHS prescription pads could be improved.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• Improvements could be made to the audit system within the practice.
• The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.

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

• Improve the security of NHS prescription pads in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor their use.

• Take action to ensure that all staff have received training in sepsis awareness, and information is available for both staff and patients relating to sepsis.

• Take action to ensure audits are undertaken to improve the quality of the service. The practice should also ensure that, where appropriate, audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.