Hill Avenue Dental Practice

We carried out this announced inspection on 21 August 2019 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 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 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

Hill Avenue Dental Practice is located in Amersham and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.

The practice is based on the first floor and is accessed by a single staircase. We were told that new patients were advised of this when they contacted the practice.

On street car parking, including spaces for blue badge holders, are available at the front of the practice.

The dental team includes five dentists, two dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse, one dental hygienist and an assistant practice manager. The practice has three treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

On the day of inspection, we collected 30 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and obtained the views of seven other patients.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, one dental nurse, one trainee dental nurse, one dental hygienist and the assistant practice manager.

We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

• Monday 8.30am – 5.30pm
• Tuesday 8.30am – 5.30pm
• Wednesday 8.30am – 5.30pm
• Thursday 8.30am – 5.30pm
• Friday 8.30am – 4.00pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared 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.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff, but improvements were needed.
• The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• 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.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well 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 suitable information governance arrangements.

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

• Review the system to track and monitor prescriptions. In particular, prescriptions that cannot be processed because they have been spoiled.
• Review the suitability of the premises and ensure all parts are fit for the purpose for which they are being used. In particular, the provision of emergency lighting.
• Review the systems for checking and monitoring equipment taking into account current national guidance and ensure that all equipment is well maintained. In particular, ensuring the compressor has safety equipment in place.
• Review the staff supervision protocols and ensure an effective process is established for the on-going appraisal of all staff.