Open Dental Care

We carried out this announced inspection on 20 May 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 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 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

Open Dental Care is in Islington, London. The practice provides private treatment to adults and children.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs.

Restricted paid car parking spaces are available opposite and behind the premises and in the surrounding streets, including those for disabled badge holders.

The practice has two treatment rooms.

The team includes three dentists, a qualified dental nurse, a dental hygienist and a receptionist.

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 managers at Open Dental Care were the principal dentists.

On the day of this inspection, we obtained feedback from four patients.

During the inspection we spoke with one of the principal dentists, the dental hygienist, the dental nurse and the receptionist.

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

The practice is open at the following times:

Monday 8:00am – 5:00pm

Tuesday 10:00am – 7:00pm

Wednesday 8:30am – 8:00pm

Thursday 9:00am – 5:00pm

Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm

Saturday 9:00am – 1:00pm

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 suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• Improvements could be made to ensure the recruitment procedures were followed appropriately as per current national guidance in all cases.
• 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 were providing preventive care and supporting 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 well as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided. Feedback from patients was positive regarding all aspects of the service.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.

There are areas in which the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Review the environmental risk assessments and ensure outstanding actions from the fire risk assessment are implemented.
• Review the protocols and procedures to ensure staff are up to date with their training and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• Review the practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure accurate, complete and detailed records are maintained for all staff.