Updated 12 November 2018
We carried out this announced inspection on 11 October 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
Queensway Dental Practice is in the London Borough of Westminster and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.
Access for people is via a staircase and the premise are located on the second floor. Car parking spaces are available at a fee-paying car park local to the practice.
The dental team includes two dentists (one of which is the principal dentist), one dental nurse, a receptionist, an assistant manager and a practice manager. The practice has two treatment rooms, however only one is currently being used.
The practice is owned by a company 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 Queensway Dental Practice is the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection we collected ten CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with one other patients.
During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, the dental nurse, a receptionist and the assistant manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday – Friday 9am-5pm.
Saturdays and Sundays by arrangement.
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.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The practice staff had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider 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 provider 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 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:
Review the availability of an automated external defibrillator, (AED), in the practice to manage medical emergencies, taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council, and undertake a risk assessment if a decision is made not to have an AED on site.
Review the availability of medicines in the practice to manage medical emergencies taking into account the guidelines issued by the British National Formulary and the General Dental Council.