Denticheck Newark

Updated 25 February 2016

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

We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection on 12 January 2016. The inspection team consisted of a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector and a dental specialist advisor. Before the inspection we reviewed information we held about the provider together with information that we asked them to send to us in advance of the inspection. During our inspection visit, we reviewed a range of policies and procedures and other documents including dental care records. We spoke with six members of staff, including members of the management team.

Before the inspection we asked the practice to send us information which we reviewed. This included the complaints they had received in the last 12 months, their latest statement of purpose, the details of the staff members, their qualifications and proof of registration with their professional bodies.

We also reviewed the information we held about the practice and found there were no areas of concern.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses, a receptionist and the practice manager. We reviewed policies, procedures and other documents. We received feedback from 34 patients about the dental 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 25 February 2016

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 12 January 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

Denticheck, Newark is situated on the ground floor of premises close to Newark town centre. The practice was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in October 2011. The practice provides regulated dental services to patients in the Newark area of north Nottinghamshire. The practice provides NHS dental treatment. Services provided include general dentistry, dental hygiene, crowns and bridges, and root canal treatment.

The practice is open Mondays to Thursdays: 9am to 5pm and Fridays: 8:45am to 2:30pm. The practice is closed at the weekend. Access for urgent treatment outside of opening hours is by ringing the 111 telephone number.

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.

The practice has five dentists, four dental nurses, two receptionists and one practice manager.

We received positive feedback from 34 patients about the services provided. This was through CQC comment cards left at the practice prior to the inspection and by speaking with patients in the practice. All of the feedback was positive.

Our key findings were:

• The practice recorded accidents, significant events and complaints, and learning points were identified and shared with staff
• When necessary apologies were given to patients when things had gone wrong.
• All staff had received whistle blowing training and were aware of these procedures and how to use them. All staff had a copy of the staff handbook which contained the whistleblowing policy.
• Patients spoke very positively about the dental service they received, and several recounted positive experiences they had had at the practice.
• Patients said they were treated with dignity and respect at the practice.
• Records showed there were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies.
• Emergency medicines, an automated external defibrillator (AED), and oxygen were readily available. An AED is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses life threatening irregularities of the heart and delivers an electrical shock to attempt to restore a normal heart rhythm.
• The practice followed the relevant guidance from the Department of Health's: ‘Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM 01-05) for infection control in most areas. However, the six monthly audits for infection control did not follow the guidance.
• Patients’ care and treatment was planned and delivered in consultation with the patient and recall intervals were in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance. Patients said they were involved in making decisions about their treatment, and patient care records reflected this.
• Options for treatment were identified, explored and discussed with patients.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review the audit tool used for infection control and follow the HTM 01-05 guidance which says: “the use of the IPS/DH audit tool is strongly recommended.”

• Contact the NHS Choices website to ensure that information on the website accurately reflects the practice.

• Review how audits are carried out at the practice, to ensure that analysis of information is clear and leads to improvements in the service.