Updated 2 April 2020
We undertook a follow up focused inspection of Church Street Dental Care on 21 February 2020. This inspection was carried out to review in detail the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.
The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
We undertook a follow up focused inspection of Church Street Dental Care on 16 September 2019 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We found the registered provider was not providing effective or well led care and was in breach of regulation 9 and 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for Church Street Dental Care on our website www.cqc.org.uk.
As part of this inspection we asked:
• Is it effective?
• Is it well-led?
Our findings were:
Are services effective?
We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Church Street Dental Care is in Littleborough, Lancashire and provides private treatment for adults and children.
There is single step access into the practice. Car parking is available near the practice on local side streets.
The dental team includes the principal dentist, four dental nurses and one dental hygienist. The practice has two treatment rooms.
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.
During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist 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 by appointment only.
Tuesday 10am to 7:30pm, Wednesday 10am to 2:30pm, Thursday 9am to 5pm and Friday 8am to 4pm.
Our key findings were:
- The provider could demonstrate they more closely followed guidance in respect to the completion of patient dental care records. Further improvements could be made.
- Systems were in place to ensure the provider remained up to date with relevant professional guidance.
- The provider was able to demonstrate their intention to integrate the use of dental dams.
- Recruitment procedures were in line with relevant legislation.
- Safer sharps systems were in line with current regulations.
- Improvements could be made to ensure clarity when reporting on X-rays taken.
- A system was in place to respond to relevant patient safety alerts.
- Control measures were in place for the use of the Orthopantomogram (OPG) and these reflected current regulations.
- Leadership and oversight of governance systems were improved.
- Systems to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service were more effectively managed.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice when completing dental care records.
- Take action to ensure clinicians report on the findings and the quality of the X-ray image in compliance with Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 and taking into account the guidance for Dental Practitioners on the Safe Use of X-ray Equipment.