The Dental Surgery, Kendal

We carried out a comprehensive inspection on 18 January 2017 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.

Background

The Dental Surgery Kendal situated in the town centre of Kendal Cumbria. It is also known as J B Jefferies.

The practice has one surgery, a reception area and the patient toilet on the ground floor of the premises. The decontamination room is based on the first floor where access is restricted to staff only. The practice was accessible to people with disabilities and impaired mobility. There is an access ramp available. There is one principal dentist who is supported by two qualified dental nurses, a receptionist and a practice manager.

The opening hours are Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 5.30pm The practices closes at 2pm on a Friday. The reception remains open throughout the day.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission as a company. The practice manager 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 premises were visibly clean and tidy.

• The practice had procedures in place to record and analyse significant   events and incidents.

• Staff had received safeguarding training, and knew the process to follow to raise concerns.

• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, skilled staff to meet the needs of patients.

• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies, and emergency medicines and equipment were available.

• Patients’ needs were assessed, and care and treatment were delivered, in accordance with current legislation, standards, and guidance.

• Patients received information about their care, proposed treatment, costs, benefits, and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.

• Staff were supported to deliver effective care, and opportunities for training and learning were available.

• Patients were treated with kindness, dignity, and respect.

• The appointment system met the needs of patients, and emergency appointments were available.

• Services were planned and delivered to meet the needs of patients, and reasonable adjustments were made to enable patients to receive their care and treatment.

• The practice gathered the views of patients and took their views into account.

• Staff were supervised, felt involved, and worked as a team.

• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice, and for the delivery of high quality person centred care.