Archived: Bupa Dental Care Evington

We carried out this announced inspection on 27 May 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 always ask the following five 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

Bupa Dental Care Evington is in Leicester and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is a small step to enter the practice, but a portable ramp is available for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Two car parking spaces are available at the practice including a dedicated space for people with disabilities.

The dental team includes two dentists, three dental nurses, one dental hygienist, and two receptionists. The provider had recently appointed a new practice manager who worked between two sites practices and was still in the process of strengthening the governance arrangements across both sites. The practice has two treatment rooms, one of which is on the ground floor and accessible for people with restricted mobility

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 Bupa Dental Care Evington is the practice manager. They are also the registered manager for a second sister practice within the same organisation.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses, one 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, Tuesday and Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm

Wednesday 9:00am - 5:30pm

Friday 9:00am - 12:45pm

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.
• Systems to track and monitor the use of NHS prescription pads were not in place
• 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 treated patients with dignity and respect and 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.
• The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team. Performance meetings were identified as an area the practice could improve upon.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.

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.

• Implement an effective system of checks of medical emergency equipment and medicines taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council.

• Improve and develop the practice's current performance review systems and have an effective process established for the on-going assessment and supervision of all staff.