AP Dental Practice

We carried out this announced inspection on 11 June 2021 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 usually ask five key questions, however due to the ongoing 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 are three of the five questions that 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 well-led?

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

Background

AP dental practice is in The London Borough of Tower Hamlets and provides NHS and private dental treatment to adults and children. NHS Services are provided under a General Dental Services (GDS) contract with NHS England. (GDS is one of the two contracting routes that have been made available to NHS dentists.)

The practice is based on the first floor of a purpose-built building on a busy main road and is well served by local bus routes. Paid on street parking is available and includes disabled parking bays.

Mr Ashish Patel- the owner of AP dental practice is registered as an organisation with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to provide the regulated activities of treatment of disease, disorder or injury, surgical procedures and diagnostic and screening procedures from two locations. As a condition of registration, they 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 business manager was the registered manager.

The dental team includes the principal dentist, four associate dentists, two dental nurses and three receptionists. They are supported by a full-time practice manager and a business manager.

The practice is open between 9.00am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday. Out of hours services are provided by the local urgent dental service when the practice is closed. The practice has a website; however, this was under construction at the time of the inspection.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance. Additional standard operating procedures have been implemented to protect patients and staff from Coronavirus.
• Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) was in use and staff had been fit tested.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• 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.
• 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 dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.

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

• Improve policies to ensure they are personalised to reflect the practice.