Archived: Dr D G McCann Dental Surgery

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 6 July 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.

Dr D G McCann Dental Surgery is a general dental practice in central Epping offering private dental treatment to adults and children.

The premises are located on the ground floor of a grade two listed converted residential premises and has some parking available. The practice consists of two treatment rooms and a reception/waiting area. There is also a designated decontamination room.

The staff at the practice consists of the principal dentist, a dental hygienist, a dental nurse and a receptionist. The principal dentist 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.

Our key findings were:

• The practice ensured staff maintained the necessary skills and competence to support the needs of patients.

• There were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. We found the treatment rooms and equipment were visibly clean.

• There were systems in place to check equipment had been serviced regularly, including the dental air compressor, autoclave, washer disinfector fire extinguishers, oxygen cylinder and the X-ray equipment.

• We found the practice regularly assessed each patient’s gum health and took X-rays at appropriate intervals.

• The practice kept up to date with current guidelines when considering the care and treatment needs of patients.

• Staff had been trained to handle emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were readily available.

• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, its costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.

• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.

• The appointment system met the needs of patients.

• There was an effective complaints system and the practice was open and transparent with patients if a mistake had been made.

• Staff demonstrated knowledge of the practice whistleblowing policy and were confident they would raise a concern about another staff member’s performance if it was necessary.

• At our visit we observed staff were very caring, friendly and professional and worked well as a team/

• We received feedback from six patients who reported they received an excellent standard of care from friendly and helpful staff in a clean and hygienic environment.

• There was an effective system in place to act on feedback received from patients and staff.
• There were systems in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality of service provided.