Archived: Genix Healthcare Dental Clinic - Conisbrough

Updated 6 January 2017

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 registered provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

We informed local NHS England area team that we were inspecting the practice. We did not receive any information of concern from them.

During the inspection we spoke with 16 patients who used the service and reviewed two completed CQC comment cards. We also spoke with three dentists, four dental nurses and the practice manager. To assess the quality of care provided we looked at practice policies and protocols and other records relating to the management of the 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 6 January 2017

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 8 December 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

Genix Healthcare Dental Clinic - Conisbrough is situated in South Yorkshire. It provides predominantly NHS treatment to patients of all ages. The services include preventative advice and treatment and routine restorative dental care.

The practice has four surgeries, a decontamination room, a waiting and reception area. The reception area, waiting area and two surgeries are on the ground floor. The other two surgeries are on the first floor. There is access for wheelchair users and those with limited mobility.

There are four dentists, one dental hygiene therapist, six dental nurses (two of whom are trainees) and a practice manager (who is also a qualified dental nurse).

The opening hours are:

Monday from 8:30am to 6:00pm,

Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm

Thursday from 8:30am to 6:30pm.

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.

During the inspection we spoke with 16 patients who used the service and reviewed two completed CQC comment cards. The patients commented that staff were helpful and kind. Two patients commented they felt they could not get an appointment in a timely manner.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was visibly clean and tidy.
• The practice had systems in place to assess and manage risks to patients and staff including health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.
• Staff were qualified and had received training appropriate to their roles.
• Patients were involved in making decisions about their treatment and were given clear explanations about their proposed treatment.
• Dental care records showed treatment was planned in line with current best practice guidelines.
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).
• We observed patients were treated with kindness and respect by staff.
• Staff ensured there was sufficient time to explain fully the care and treatment they were providing in a way patients understood.
• The practice had a complaints system in place and there was an openness and transparency in how these were dealt with.
• The governance systems were effective.
• There were clearly defined leadership roles within the practice and staff told us they felt supported, appreciated and comfortable to raise concerns or make suggestions.
• Some patient’s felt the appointment system did not meet their individual needs.

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 practice’s waste handling policy and procedure to ensure waste is segregated and disposed of in accordance with relevant regulations giving due regard to guidance issued in the Health Technical Memorandum 07-01 (HTM 07-01).
• Review the practice’s audit protocols of radiography to help improve the quality of service. Practice should also check all audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.