Oradent Kent Limited

We carried out this unannounced focused inspection on 09 August 2022 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 adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment,

we usually ask five key questions, however due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to reduce time spent on site, only the following three questions were asked:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

Our findings were:

• The dental clinic had areas that were not visibly clean or well-maintained. This was rectified following our inspection.
• The practice had infection control procedures which did not reflect published guidance.
• We were not assured all staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies as training had lapsed. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• Safeguarding processes were not in place and we were not assured that all staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The practice had staff recruitment procedures which did not reflect current legislation.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and staff took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
• The dental clinic had information governance arrangements.

Background

The provider has seven practices and this report is about Oradent Kent.

Oradent Kent is in Ashford and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes 13 dentists, five registered dental nurses, five trainee dental nurses, a practice manager, a treatment co-ordinator, an operations manager and four receptionists. The practice has seven treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, two registered dental nurses, the treatment co-ordinator, the operations manager, a 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:

Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm for NHS patients

Monday and Tuesday 8.30am to 9am and 5pm to 7pm for private patients

Wednesday and Thursday 8.30am to 9pm and 5pm to 6pm for private patients

Friday 8.30am to 9am for private patients.

Saturday 9am to 1pm for private patients.

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Care and treatment must be provided in a safe way for service users
• Systems or processes must be established and operated effectively to ensure compliance with the requirements of the fundamental standards as set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
• The service provider had failed to ensure that persons employed in the provision of a regulated activity received such appropriate support, training, professional development, supervision and appraisal as was necessary to enable them to carry out the duties they were employed to perform.
• The registered person had not ensured that all the information specified in Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 was available for each person employed.

Full details of the regulation/s the provider was/is not meeting are at the end of this report.

Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.