Updated 18 November 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 11 October 2019 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 CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
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 form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.
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
Borough Dental Care is in the London Borough of Southwark. The practice provides NHS and private dental treatments to adults and children.
The practice is located close to public transport services. The practice is located on the ground and lower ground floor and has five treatment rooms, three of which are located on the ground floor.
The dental team includes the principal dentist, two associate dentists, one specialist orthodontist, one specialist endodontist and one dentist with specialist interest in paediatric dentistry. Two dental hygienists, one dental nurse and one trainee dental nurse work at the practice. The clinical team are supported by a practice manager and three receptionists.
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.
We collected feedback from five patients who completed CQC comment cards.
During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, one dental nurse, one receptionist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open between:
9am and 7pm on Mondays and Thursdays.
9am and 6.30pm on Tuesdays.
9am and 8pm on Thursdays.
9am and 5pm on Fridays
9.30am and 4pm on Saturdays
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff. Improvements were needed so that the practices’ sharps procedures were in compliance with relevant legislation.
- The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
- The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines. Improvements were needed so that the practice antibiotic prescribing procedures were audited taking into account relevant guidance.
- Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information. Improvements were needed
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- The provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The provider had suitable information governance arrangements. Improvements were needed to ensure that there were suitable protocols for the use of closed circuit television cameras taking into account published guidelines.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Improve the practice’s sharps procedures to ensure the practice is in compliance with the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.
- Review the practice protocols regarding audits for prescribing of antibiotics, taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice
- Implement protocols for the use of closed circuit television cameras taking into account the guidelines published by the Information Commissioner's Office