Bhandal Dental Practice - Severn Drive

We carried out this announced inspection on 21 January 2020 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 provider 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 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 form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Bhandal Dental Practice - Severn Drive is in Perton, Wolverhampton and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The practice is situated in a purpose-built building next door to a doctor’s surgery. 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 in the dedicated practice car park.

The dental team includes two dentists, two dental nurses (one of whom is a trainee dental nurse), one receptionist and a practice manager. The practice has one treatment room.

The practice is owned by a partnership and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC as the registered manager. Registered managers have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run. The registered manager at Bhandal Dental Practice - Severn Drive is the principal dentist.

On the day of inspection, we collected 20 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, one dental nurse, the practice manager and the compliance governance manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday and Tuesday from 9am to 6pm

Wednesday from 9am to 7pm

Thursday from 9am to 6pm

Friday from 9am to 5pm

Saturday from 9am to 1pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice was part of a corporate group which had a head office where functions including human resources, governance compliance, health and safety, learning and development and clinical support and were based. The staff based at the head office supported and offered expert advice and updates to the practice when required.
• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available. However, the self-inflating bags with reservoirs were not stored in protective packaging. These were replaced within 48 hours of our inspection.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and 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. Extended opening hours were offered including evening and Saturday appointments.
• The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider had a complaints procedure, and these were handled by staff at their head office.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.