SC Dental Studio Ltd

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 9 August 2023 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 practice was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations.

The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector who was supported by a specialist dental advisor.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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:

• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider’s infection control procedures were not operated effectively.
• The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
• The provider did not operate effective systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies, but improvement was needed to ensure emergency medicines were fully appropriate.
• Improvements were needed to the provider’s staff recruitment procedures.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The provider did not have effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
• Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.

Background

SC Dental Studio Ltd Slough and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is step free access via a portable ramp, to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs.

Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, are available near the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with access requirements.

The dental team includes 4 dentists, 2 foundation dentists, 1 visiting anaesthetist,

7 dental nurses, of which 1 is also the practice manager and 1 is a receptionist, 1 dental hygiene therapist, and 1 receptionist. The practice has 5 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 2 dentists, 2 foundation dentists, 2 dental nurses, 1 receptionist and the practice manager.

We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

• 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.
  
• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

​​​​​​​Full details of the regulations the provider was not meeting are at the end of this report.

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

• Implement protocols regarding the prescribing and recording of antibiotic medicines taking into account guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice in respect of antimicrobial prescribing.
• Take action to ensure that all clinical staff have adequate immunity for vaccine preventable infectious diseases.
• 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.
• Improve and develop staff awareness of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and ensure all staff are aware of their responsibilities under the Act as it relates to their role.

​​​​​​​The practice manager accepted the issues raised and started to take action to address these.

Where evidence is sent that shows the relevant issues have been acted on, we have stated this in our report, but we cannot say that the practice is compliant for that key question as this would not be an accurate reflection of what was found on the day of our inspection.