Updated 4 May 2023
We carried out this announced comprehensive on 12 April 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.
- 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.
- Staff felt involved, supported and worked as a team.
- The providers system to ensure completion of required training and continuous professional development (CPD) was not effective.
- The practice had infection control procedures that required strengthening to reflect local processes and published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. However, not all items from the suggested minimum equipment list published by the Resuscitation Council were present. Missing items were ordered immediately on the day of our inspection.
- The practice had systems to manage risks for patients, staff, equipment, and the premises.
- Safeguarding processes were in place but required strengthening, not all staff had received training on the day of our inspection however, staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The practice had a recruitment policy to help them employ suitable staff, although this had not always been followed. Appropriate pre-employment references had not always been obtained for new staff.
Background
The provider has 1 practice, and this report is about Rowtree Dental Care.
Rowtree Dental Care is in Northampton and provides NHS and 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, including dedicated parking for disabled people, are available at the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with access requirements.
The dental team includes 4 dentists, 1 foundation dentist, 1 dental hygienist, 6 qualified dental nurses and 2 trainee dental nurses, 1 practice manager and 3 receptionists. The practice has 6 treatment rooms.
During the inspection we spoke with 2 dentists, 3 dental nurses, 2 receptionists. As the practice manager was not available on the day of inspection, we spoke with them before and after the onsite inspection. We looked at practice policies, procedures, and other records to assess how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Thursday from 8am to 6pm
Friday from 8am to 3pm
The practice had taken steps to improve environmental sustainability. For example, implemented recycling and reduced the use of electricity by switching lights off in rooms not in use.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Improve the practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure accurate, complete and detailed records are maintained for all staff.
- Take action to ensure the availability of equipment in the practice to manage medical emergencies taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council.
- Take action to ensure audits of radiography and infection prevention and control are undertaken at regular intervals to improve the quality of the service. Practice should also ensure that, where appropriate, audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.
- Improve oversight of staff training or completion of continuing professional development (CPD). Specifically for Infection Prevention and Control, Decontamination procedures and safeguarding.