VDental Smile Studio

We undertook a follow up desk-based inspection of VDental Smile Studio on 20 February 2020. This inspection was carried out to review in detail the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.

The inspection was led by a CQC inspector.

We undertook a comprehensive inspection of VDental Smile Studio on 25 November 2019 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We found the registered provider was not providing safe and well led care and was in breach of Regulation 12, safe care and treatment, Regulation 17, good governance and Regulation 19, fit and proper persons employed, of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for VDental Smile Studio on our website www.cqc.org.uk.

As part of this inspection we asked:

• Is it safe?

• Is it well-led?

When one or more of the five questions are not met we require the service to make improvements and send us an action plan (requirement notice only). We then inspect again after a reasonable interval, focusing on the area(s) where improvement was required.

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breaches we found at our inspection on 25 November 2019.

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breaches we found at our inspection on 25 November 2019.

Background

VDental Smile Studio is in Eastway in the London borough of Hackney and provides 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. Car parking spaces are available near the practice for a fee.

The dental team includes a principal dentist, four specialist associate dentists (oral surgeon, endodontist, periodontist and a prosthodontist), one dental nurse and a practice manager. The practice has two treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist 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.

During the desk-based follow up inspection we looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

9.00am – 5.30pm Monday to Thursdays

9.00am – 3.00pm Fridays

9.00am – 1.00pm Saturdays

Our key findings were:

• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. The staff team had completed medical emergencies and basic life support training.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.

We carried out this announced inspection on 25 November 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 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 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 this practice was not 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 caring?

We found this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was not providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

VDental Smile Studio is in Eastway in the London borough of Hackney and provides 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. Car parking spaces are available near the practice for a fee.

The dental team includes a principal dentist, four specialist associate dentists (oral surgeon, endodontist, periodontist and a prosthodontist), one dental nurse and a practice manager. The practice has two treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist 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 14 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.

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

The practice is open:

9.00am – 5.30pm Monday to Thursdays

9.00am – 3.00pm Fridays

9.00am – 1.00pm Saturdays

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• 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 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 asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• Improvements were required to the provider’s information governance arrangements.
• Staff recruitment procedures were not in line with legislation and current national guidance. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available. Improvements were required with regards to staff completing medical emergencies and basic life support training.
• Improvements were required to the provider’s systems for managing risk to patients and staff.

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.
• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
• Ensure specified information is available regarding each person employed.

Full details of the regulations the provider was not meeting are at the end of this report.

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

• Implement systems for the recognition, diagnosis and early management of sepsis.

• Review the practice protocols regarding audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.