Archived: Rosslyn Hill Dental Clinic

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 18 January 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 practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies.
• Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The practice did not always follow their recruitment policy.
• The provider had not ensured the inspection or servicing of the gas boiler and electrical fixed wiring in accordance with legislation.
• Improvements were needed in relation to the practice governance arrangements.
• Emergency equipment and medicines were not available and checked in accordance with national guidance. This was immediately rectified by the provider.
• The dental team was long-standing which meant there was continuity of care and treatment for patients.
• Dental care records we looked at were not completed in line with national guidance.

Background

Rosslyn Hill Dental Practice is in Hampstead which comes under the local authority of Camden, and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is ramp 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 three dentists, three dental nurses, two dental hygienists and one receptionist/administrator. The practice has five treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with all members of staff. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 4:30pm except for Friday when they close at 1:30pm. During out of hours or when the practice is closed, patients could contact the emergency mobile number for care and treatment.

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

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

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

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry.
• Improve the practice protocols regarding auditing patient dental care records to check that necessary information is recorded.
• Take action to ensure dentists are aware of the guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment.
• Improve the practice's systems for assessing, monitoring and mitigating the various risks arising from the undertaking of the regulated activities. In particular, those relating to latex and lone working.
• Improve the practice's protocols and procedures for the use of X-ray equipment in compliance with The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 and Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 and taking into account the guidance for Dental Practitioners on the Safe Use of X-ray Equipment.