Direct Dental Hygienists Limited

We carried out this announced inspection on 30 September 2019 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 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 caring?

• Is it responsive to people’s needs?

• 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 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

Direct Dental Hygienists Limited is in Great Dunmow, Essex and provides private direct access dental hygiene treatment to adults over 18 years of age. Due to a change in legislation patients are able to go straight to a dental hygienist without seeing a dentist first. This is called direct access. The practice undertakes scale and polish treatments to remove plaque, tartar and stains and educates patients on the prevention of gum disease with oral health advice. The practice does not undertake tooth whitening, prescribe fluoride or administer any local anaesthetics.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including spaces for blue badge holders, are available in local public car parks near the practice. There is one parking space directly outside the practice.

The dental team includes one dental hygienist and one dental nurse who undertakes decontamination and reception duties. The practice has one treatment room, a decontamination room for sterilising dental instruments, a reception room/waiting area, an accessible toilet and a staff room/kitchen. The practice is decorated in a unique 1920s theme.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the hygienist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

On the day of inspection, we collected 47 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.

During the inspection we spoke with the dental hygienist and the dental nurse/receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday from 9am to 5.30pm.

Tuesday - Closed.

Wednesday from 9am to 7.30pm.

Thursday from 9am to 5.30pm.

Friday - Closed.

Saturday from 9am to 5.30pm by appointment.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The practice carried out infection prevention and control audits.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Most medicines and life saving equipment were available, and missing items were purchased following our inspection.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• 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.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs. The practice opened late on Wednesday till 7.30pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 5.30pm for appointments.
• The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.