Preston Orthodontics

We carried out this announced inspection on 4 April 2018 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 this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found this practice was providing responsive 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

Preston Orthodontics is in the centre of Preston and provides NHS dental services with some private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Public car parking spaces is available near the practice.

The dental team includes one specialist orthodontist, one orthodontist therapist, one dental nurse and a practice manager. The practice has two treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal orthodontist. 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 32 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.

During the inspection we spoke with the specialist orthodontist, the dental nurse and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

• Monday to Wednesday 9am-5.30pm and Thursday 10am-5:30pm. The practice is closed on a Friday.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• 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 appointment system met patients’ needs.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The practice had suitable information governance arrangements.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Review the equipment to manage medical emergencies taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK), and the General Dental Council (GDC). Ensure staff are fully aware how to use all equipment to manage a medical emergency.
• Review the storage of medicines requiring refrigeration to ensure they are stored in line with the manufacturer’s guidance and the fridge temperature is monitored and recorded.
• Review the practice’s procedures for closed-circuit television (CCTV) and compliance with the information commissioner’s office protocols (ICO).
• Review the current fire risk assessment and implement the required actions including weekly fire alarm tests and regular fire drills.