The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Walrus Dental Care Limited

31 Highroadwell Lane, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX2 0LY (01422) 347176

Provided and run by:
Walrus Dental Care Limited

All Inspections

14 April 2022

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 14 April 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.
  • Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
  • The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff. We found that other measures could be put in place to reduce risks for hazardous substances, Legionella and immunity.
  • Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
  • The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
  • The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines. Systems should be reviewed to ensure audits of clinical care are effective.
  • Patients were treated with dignity and respect and staff took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
  • Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
  • 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.

Background

Walrus Dental Care Limited is in Halifax 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. A car park is provided at the practice, including dedicated parking for disabled people.

The dental team includes five dentists (which includes a locum dentist and a dentist currently undertaking Performers List Validation by Experience (PLVE), five dental nurses (which includes two trainees), a dental hygiene therapist, a practice manager and a receptionist. The practice has four treatment rooms.

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

The practice is open:

Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm

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

  • Take action to ensure that all clinical staff have adequate immunity for vaccine preventable infectious diseases.

  • Improve the practice's processes for the control and usage of substances hazardous to health identified by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, to ensure products are used in line with manufacturer’s instructions.

  • Take action to implement any recommendations in the practice's Legionella risk assessment, taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices, and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.’ In particular, ensuring water temperature testing and flushing of lesser used outlets.

  • Take action to ensure audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.

13 March 2014

During an inspection looking at part of the service

When we visited this service on 12 July 2013 we found records of people who used the service were not stored securely. We asked the provider to make improvements. We went back on this visit to check whether improvements had been made.

The practice employs three dentists, three dental nurses and an administrator. Two practice managers oversee this practice and a small number of other practices within the West Yorkshire area.

During this visit we spoke with a dental nurse, the practice administrator and both practice managers. Due to the focussed nature of this inspection we did not, on this occasion, speak with people who used the service.

Staff told us they had recently received training in secure storage of records and confidentiality.

Staff told us records were kept in secure filing cabinets in a locked office. We saw the office door contained a lock and was closed to prevent unauthorised entry.

One of the practice managers told us secure data storage had been addressed at a recent staff meeting.

12 July 2013

During an inspection looking at part of the service

When we visited the location in November 2012 we found that the provider had not taken steps to provide care in an environment that is suitably designed and adequately maintained. When we returned to the location we saw that improvements had been made to the environment. We also found documents which contained people's personal information was not stored securely.

1 November 2012

During a routine inspection

We brought forward the planned inspection of the service as we had received information that concerned us about the quality of services provided at the practice.

We were able to speak with 10 people, who told us that they were very satisfied with the service. The majority of the people who we spoke with had been attending the practice between five and 15 years. Their comments included; 'I am provided with all of the information to make informed choices about my care and treatment'. 'I am very satisfied with the treatment received from my dentist'. Two people commented that they were provided with emergency appointments within 24 hours of contacting the practice.

During the course of our inspection, we identified concerns in relation to the safety of the environment, security and safekeeping of patient's records and a lack of information at the practice on the quality of services provided. Therefore, Outcomes 10 Safety and suitability of premises and Outcome 21 Records were also included for review at this inspection.