The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Archived: Anele De Novo Dental Practice - Beltinge

143 Reculver Road, Beltinge, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 6PD (01227) 371937

Provided and run by:
Anele De Novo Dental Practice

Important: The partners registered to provide this service have changed. See new profile

All Inspections

05 October 2016

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 5 October 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.

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

Anele De Novo Dental Practice Beltinge provides both restorative and preventative dentistry on an NHS and private basis to approximately 7500 patients of all ages. More complex procedures such as oral surgery and implants are provided privately. The practice has three dental treatment rooms which are based on the ground floor. There is a separate decontamination room used for cleaning, sterilising and packing of instruments. The ground floor is accessible to wheelchair users, prams and patients with limited mobility via an inbuilt ramp. There is a wheelchair accessible toilet.

The practice employs three dentists, one hygienist, three registered dental nurses who also work on the reception area and one receptionist.

The practice’s opening hours are Monday to Friday between 8.45 am and 5.30 pm. Access for urgent treatment outside of opening hours is by a dental advice line. Before the inspection we sent Care Quality Commission comment cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice. We received feedback from seven patients. These provided a completely positive view of the services the practice provides. Patients commented on the very good service they received, the caring nature of all staff, the helpfulness of reception staff and the overall high quality of customer care.

Our key findings were:

  • The practice appeared visibly clean, was bright and clutter free.
  • Staff were polite and friendly.
  • The building was maintained to a suitable standard for a dental practice and provided wheelchair access and a wheelchair accessible toilet.
  • There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was well maintained.
  • Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies and emergency medicines and equipment were readily available.
  • Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed.
  • Infection control procedures followed published guidance.
  • Clinical staff had the necessary skills to carry out their duties in line with the requirements of their professional registration.
  • Information from seven completed Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards gave a positive picture of a friendly and caring service.

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

  • Review its audit protocols to document learning points that are shared with all relevant staff and ensure that the resulting improvements can be demonstrated as part of the audit process.
  • Review the practice policy for infection control and update yearly to maintain compliance with national guidance.
  • Review the practice policy for fire safety and consider carrying out fire drills.
  • Review the way that recruitment checks are carried out for new staff at the practice to ensure that Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) checks are carried out in a timely manner.
  • Review the information that is gained from the NHS Friends and Family Test (FFT) and consider displaying this in the patient waiting area.

8 August 2014

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Our inspection on the 16 January 2014 found that there were not effective recruitment and selection processes in place for the

selection and management of staff, and some of the staff had not had all of the necessary recruitment checks. This meant that the provider could not be sure that staff were fit and suitable to work with vulnerable people.

We asked the provider to take action to address these concerns. They wrote to us confirming that all required actions had been taken to comply with the regulations regarding recruitment and checking of staff. A planned follow-up inspection was scheduled to check that the provider had achieved compliance.

At this inspection on the 08 August 2014, we found that the provider was able to demonstrate that they had met the compliance actions set to address the areas of concern identified at our previous inspection.

16 January 2014

During a routine inspection

We spoke with 10 patients, all three dentists, and four dental nurses two of which cover reception duties also.

We saw that the practice had a system for gaining consent and that treatment and consent forms had been consistently completed. Clear written information was provided to patients about their various treatment options and the costs involved. One person told us 'The dentist explains everything to me and I am often given a choice.' Another commented 'I went to this practice for a second opinion and was given a choice and time to think about the different options.'

Patient's medical and dental health needs were accurately documented in their records. Medical information that could have an impact on patient's treatment was reviewed regularly and kept up to date. However provisions for medical emergencies were not appropriate placing people at risk should there be an emergency.

The practice was clean and hygienic and the staff followed appropriate infection control procedures in line with current legislation. One patient told us 'The practice is always clean to a high standard.'

We found that there were not effective recruitment and selection processes in place for the selection and management of staff, and some of the staff had not had all of the necessary recruitment checks. This meant that the provider could not be sure that staff were fit and suitable to work with vulnerable people.

Patients who used the practice were asked for their views about the service they received. A patient told us 'The dentist always gives you all the time in the world; she never rushes me, even though I know she is very busy.' The provider had carried out a number of audits to assess and maintain good standards of hygiene, health and safety and a safe environment.