Updated 30 January 2023
We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 11 January 2023 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 practice 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 advisor.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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:
- The dental clinic appeared clean and well-maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available although the medicine used to manage a seizure was not of the recommended type.
- The practice had systems to manage risks for patients, staff, equipment and the premises.
- Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The practice had a staff recruitment policy which reflected current legislation. However, we found that the policy had not always been followed, as not all staff records we reviewed had satisfactory evidence of conduct in previous employment (references) completed at the time of employment.
- Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
- Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Staff took care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
- The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
- There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved, supported and worked as a team.
- Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
- Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
- The practice had information governance arrangements.
Background
The provider has 1 practice, and this report is about Oxley Park Dental Practice.
Oxley Park Dental Practice is in Milton Keynes and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
There is step free access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available in the street near the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with access requirements.
The dental team includes 1 dentist, and 3 dental nurses including 2 trainee dental nurses and 1 dental nurse who works occasionally. A medically qualified practitioner visits the practice to provide sedation for patients. The practice has 2 treatment rooms.
During the inspection we spoke with 1 dentist, and 2 trainee dental nurses. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Thursday from 9am to 6pm
Friday from 9am to 4pm
Alternate Saturdays from 9am to 1pm.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Implement an effective recruitment procedure to ensure that appropriate checks are completed prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice. In particular, ensuring satisfactory evidence of conduct in previous employment (references) is obtained for newly recruited staff in line with the practice’s recruitment policy.
- Implement an effective system for monitoring and recording the fridge temperature to ensure that medicines and dental care products are being stored in line with the manufacturer’s guidance.
- Take action to ensure that all team members involved in treating patients under sedation have the appropriate life support skills taking into account the guidelines published by The Intercollegiate Advisory Committee on Sedation in Dentistry in the document 'Standards for Conscious Sedation in the Provision of Dental Care 2015.