IDH Kilkenny House Taunton

Updated 29 March 2017

This inspection took place on 20 February 2017. The focused inspection was led by a CQC inspector who had access to remote advice from a dental specialist advisor.

We conducted a tour of the practice and looked at the decontamination and governance processes as the practice had been non-compliant in these areas at the last inspection. During our inspection visit, we reviewed policy documents, staff records. We spoke with three patients, five members of staff and the practice manager.

We observed staff interacting with patients in the waiting area. Patients gave positive feedback about their experience at the practice.

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 therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 29 March 2017

We carried out an announced responsive follow up inspection on 20 February 2017 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services well-led?

We had undertaken an announced comprehensive inspection of this service on 3 August 2016 as part of our regulatory functions where a breach of legal requirements were found.

IDH (Integrated Dental Holdings) is a national company which operates over 600 dental practices across the United Kingdom recently re-branded as ‘My Dentist’. The Kilkenny House practice provides both NHS dental treatment to adults and children and private dental treatment to and adults.

The practice is situated in the centre of Taunton town. The practice has eight potential dental treatment rooms six of which are currently in use, two decontamination rooms for the cleaning, sterilising and packing of dental instruments, a reception, two waiting areas, two staff rooms and a manager’s office. Dental services are provided on the ground and first floor. The main entrance to the practice is accessible by external steps and ramp access.

The practice is open Monday, Wednesday & Friday 8am – 5pm Tuesdays and Thursdays 8am – 8pm, every other Saturday from 9am – 2pm. It is closed on Sunday.

IDH Kilkenny House has five dentists, a visiting implantoligist, two part time dental hygienists, six dental nurses one of whom is qualified and five are trainee dental nurses. The practice manager and clinical team are supported by three receptionists. The practice had a 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.

Before the inspection we reviewed the action plan the provider and registered manger had sent us.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• Infection control procedures were robust and the practice followed published guidance.
• Staff had been trained to handle emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were readily available in accordance with current guidelines.
• The practice had systems in place to manage risks.
• Staff understood and received safeguarding training and knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report it.
• Safe recruitment of staff was in place.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice was well-led and staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided.
• Complaints were responded to in an efficient and responsive manner.