Park View Dental Care

We carried out this announced inspection on 22 June 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 asked the following three 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

Park View Dental Care is based in Letchworth Garden City and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children. The practice is one of 16, owned by Alliance Dental Care Limited.

There is ramp access to the premises for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes six dentists, seven dental nurses, a dental hygienist and a practice manager. The practice has six treatment rooms.

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 Park View Dental Care no longer works there and we are awaiting an application to register a new manager.

The practice is open on Mondays from 9 am to 7.30pm; and on Tuesdays to Fridays from 9am to 5 pm.

During the inspection we spoke with one of the owners, the regional manager, one dentist, one hygienist, two dental nurses, and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

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 provider’s recruitment procedures were thorough and ensured only suitable staff were employed.
• Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

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

• Review the practice’s sharps procedures to ensure the practice is in compliance with the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.
• Take action to ensure all clinicians are adequately supported by a trained member of the dental team when treating patients in a dental setting taking into account the guidance issued by the General Dental Council.
• Review the practice’s written water management scheme and legionella risk assessment and ensure these are undertaken by an experienced and competent person.