Church Street Dental Practice

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 21 February 2024 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 advisor.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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:

• The dental clinic appeared clean and well-maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• Improvements could be made to the systems for managing the risks associated with the carrying on of the regulated activities.
• Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines. However, Improvements could be made to the detail recorded in dental care records.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Staff took care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
• The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
• There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved, supported and worked as a team.
• Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
• Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
• The practice had information governance arrangements.

Background

Church Street Dental Practice is in Guisborough and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is step free access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with access requirements.

The dental team includes 3 dentists, 3 qualified dental nurses (1 of whom also works as the practice manager), 2 trainee dental nurses, 1 dental hygienist, 1 clinical dental technician and 2 receptionists. The practice has 4 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 2 dentists and 2 qualified dental nurses (1 of whom is also the practice manager). We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Thursday from 8am to 5.30pm

Friday from 8am to 2pm

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

• Take action to ensure both hot and cold running water is available in areas where employees are expected to wash their hands taking into account the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations, 1992.
• Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry when completing dental care records.
• Improve the practice's processes for the control and storage of substances hazardous to health identified by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, to ensure risk assessments are undertaken for all hazardous substances.
• Take action to ensure that all clinical staff have adequate immunity for vaccine preventable infectious diseases.