Updated 19 November 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 14 October 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
Aldgate House Dental Care is in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The practice provides NHS and private dental treatments to adults and children.
The practice is located close to public transport services. The practice is located on the ground and lower floor of a purpose adapted building and has three treatment rooms, one of which is located on the ground floor.
The dental team includes the two principal dentists, one associate dentist, two dental hygienists, one dental nurse and two trainee dental nurse. The clinical team are supported by practice manager (one of the hygienists) and two receptionists.
The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. 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.
We collected feedback from 34 patients who completed CQC comment cards.
During the inspection we spoke with one principal dentist, the dental nurse, the practice manager and the receptionists. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open between:
8.30 am and 8pm on Mondays and Wednesdays
8.30am and 7pm on Tuesdays.
8.30am and 5.30pm on Thursdays.
8.30am and 6pm on Fridays.
8.30am and 1pm on Saturdays
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, although improvements could be made in regards to access to some medical emergency equipment including appropriately sized adhesive pads for use with the automated external defibrillator (AED).
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- 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.
- The provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- 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:
- Implement an effective system of checks of medical emergency equipment and medicines taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council.
- Take action to ensure dentists are aware of the guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment.
- Implement a system to ensure patient referrals to other dental or health care professionals are centrally monitored to ensure they are received in a timely manner and not lost.