Background to this inspection
Updated
8 September 2016
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the practice was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection on 2 August 2016. The inspection team consisted of a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector and a dental specialist advisor.
Before the inspection we asked the provider for information to be sent this included the complaints the practice had received in the last 12 months; their latest statement of purpose; the details of the staff members and their qualifications and proof of registration with their professional bodies.
We also reviewed the information we held about the practice and found there were no areas of concern.
During the inspection we spoke with six members of staff, as well as the area manager. We reviewed policies, procedures and other documents. We received feedback from 20 patients about the dental service.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:
- Is it safe?
- Is it effective?
- Is it caring?
- Is it responsive to people’s needs?
- Is it well-led?
These questions therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.
Updated
8 September 2016
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 2 August 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?
Our findings were:
Are services safe?
We found that this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services effective?
We found that this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services caring?
We found that this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services responsive?
We found that this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services well-led?
We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Mydentist - Castle Road – Bedford is a general dental practice near the town centre in Bedford. It is part of a large group of dental practices. It is situated in a converted house, and the premises consist of two first floor treatment rooms, a reception area and waiting room and a separate decontamination room (Decontamination is the process by which dirty and contaminated instruments are bought from the treatment room, washed, inspected, sterilised and sealed in pouches ready for use again).
The practice offers general dental treatment to adults and children on the NHS or privately funded.
The opening hours of the practice are 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday.
The practice manager is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons 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 practice had three dentists, a dental hygienist, a qualified dental nurse and a trainee dental nurse; supported by a practice manager and two receptionists.
We received positive feedback from 19 patients about the services provided. This was through CQC comment cards left at the practice prior to the inspection.
Our key findings were
- The practice was visibly clean and clutter free.
- Patients reported that staff were friendly and helpful.
- The practice could normally arrange a routine appointment within a week and emergency appointments were mostly arranged on the same day.
- Infection control standards met national guidance.
- The practice kept medicines and equipment for use in medical emergencies. These were in line with national guidance.
- There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was well maintained.
- Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the service.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:
- Review staff awareness of Gillick competency and ensure all staff are aware of their responsibilities.
- Review the availability of support for patients who do not speak English as their first language, and those with hearing aids.
- Review the availability of contact numbers for external agencies that patients could contact to raise or escalate complaints.