42 St Giles

Updated 28 November 2019

We carried out this announced inspection on 30 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

42 St Giles and provides private treatment to adults and children.

The practice is based on the first floor. Patients are advised of this when they contact the practice. The practice website also includes this information.

Car parking spaces, including space for blue badge holders, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes two dentists, three dental nurses and one receptionist. The practice has two 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 10 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and asked three other patients for their views about the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists and two dental nurses.

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

The practice is open:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 8.30am -12.30pm and 1.30pm - 5.30pm

Wednesday 8.30am – 12.30pm

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.
• The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures but improvements were needed to ensure references were obtained for new staff.
• 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 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 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.
• 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 recruitment procedure to ensure that appropriate checks are completed prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice.
• Improve the practice protocols regarding auditing radiographs and patient dental care records to check that relevant information is recorded
• Improve and develop the practice's policies and procedures for recording to care and treatment to ensure they take into account the relevant guidance. The provider should ensure staff follow implement this guidance.