Updated 16 July 2020
We undertook a follow up desk-based inspection of The Village Dental Practice on 24 June 2020. This inspection was carried out to review in detail the actions plan put in place by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.
This desk-based inspection was undertaken during the Covid 19 lockdown. We reviewed the action plan submitted to us outlining improvements to the systems the practice intends to put into place for the future.
The inspection was undertaken by a CQC inspector who had remote access to a specialist dental adviser .
We undertook a comprehensive inspection of The Village Dental Practice on 9 March 2020 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 well led care and was in breach of regulation 17 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 The Village Dental Practice on our website .
As part of this desk-based inspection, we reviewed the action plan to ensure the practice had identified where the was a shortfall and had actions to put in place to ensure the practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
This desk-based inspection was undertaken during the Covid 19 pandemic. Due to the demands and constraints in place because of Covid 19 we reviewed the action plan and asked the provider to confirm compliance after a reasonable interval, focusing on the area where improvement was required.
Our findings were:
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had planned improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on 09 March 2020.
Background
The Village Dental Practice is in Adlington and provides NHS and 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, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes two dentists, three dental nurses (of whom one is a trainee), two dental hygienists and two receptionists. The practice has three 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.
The practice is open:
Monday to Friday 8am – 5:30pm
Late evening and Saturday appointments are available by prior arrangement.
Our key findings were :
- The practice had introduced new guidance for all staff in respect to intervals for taking and grading of all radiographs.
- The practice confirmed that the radiation protection file would be reviewed and updated in full by August 2020.
- Guidance for staff in the completion of dental care records has been implemented.
- Improved infection prevention and control procedures have been implemented.
- A proposed review of the recall system for regular oral health checks when services recover from the Covid -19 pandemic was in place.
- The consent form signing process by the patient has been improved.
- There has been a review of training for all staff in the practice.
- The provider intends to implement bi-annual satisfaction surveys for patients to complete.
- A systematic audit programme is to be introduced.