Updated 31 January 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 9 January 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
Herschel Dental and Implant Centre is in Slough and provides private treatment to patients of all ages. The practice is situated in the Herschel Medical Centre
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking is available on street outside the practice.
The dental team includes one dentist and a locum dental nurse who also covers reception duties. The practice has one treatment room.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission 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 Herschel Dental and Implant Centre is the principal dentist.
The provider leased space in a building owned by a health centre. The practice was closed on the day of our inspection.
Herschel Dental and Implant Centre currently treats mostly emergency appointment patients on Saturdays.
The practice had seen seven patients since May 2018. We were told the provider intended to start treating more patients but had yet to fully set up the systems and protocols expected of a whole-time practice. This report will reflect this.
During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open on Saturdays between 9am and 12 noon.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available in the GP practice.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
- The practice 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.
- The practice was providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
- The availability of appointments met patients’ needs.
- The practice had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
- The practice had suitable information governance arrangements.
- Improvements were required to several areas of the practice. All of these have been addressed since our visit.