Archived: Albert Dental Practice

We carried out this announced inspection on 18 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 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

Albert Dental Practice is in Donnington, Telford and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.

The practice is located on the first floor of the building and there is no level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, which are shared with the local shops are available at the front of the practice.

The dental team includes three dentists, three dental nurses (including two trainee dental nurses), and a part time receptionist. The practice has two treatment rooms. At the time of inspection, a dental practice advisor had been employed on a short-term contract.

The practice is owned by a partnership and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission 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 manager at Albert Dental Practice was the senior partner and was present at the time of this inspection.

On the day of inspection we collected 17 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with three other patients.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists (including the principal dentist), one dental nurse (who also acts as the practice manager and head nurse), one receptionist and the dental practice advisor. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm. The practice is closed for one hour each lunchtime between 12.30pm to 1.30pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
• The practice staff 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 practice was providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
• 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 staff dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The practice staff had suitable information governance arrangements.

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

• Review the practice's responsibilities to take into account the needs of patients with disabilities and to comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. [MT1][SD2]