Mydentist - Cornhill - Banbury

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 13 January 2013 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 adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we ask five key questions:

• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• Is it caring?
• Is it responsive?
• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

Our findings were:

• The dental practice was visibly clean.
• The practice’s infection control procedures were not effective.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies.
• The provider did not operate effective systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• Staff recruitment procedures were not operated effectively.
• The clinicians provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• Staff training was not monitored effectively.
• The practice did not have appropriate quality assurance processes to encourage learning and continuous improvement.
• The practice did not have effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.

Background

The provider is part of a dental group, with multiple practices. This report is about Mydentist - Cornhill - Banbury.

Mydentist - Cornhill - Banbury is in Banbury and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is step free access 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 additional access requirements. These include:

• A wheelchair accessible toilet;
• Hearing loop;
• Reading aids;
• Step free access and
• Ground floor surgeries

The dental team includes 7 dentists, 2 dental specialist, 2 dental nurses, 3 student dental nurses, 2 dental hygienists, 1 treatment coordinator, 2 reception staff and a practice manager.

The practice has 8 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 2 dentist, 2 dental nurses, 2 compliance officers, the area manager and three practice managers from the providers other dental practices.

We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

• Monday 8.30am to 6.30pm
• Tuesday 8.30am to 6.30pm
• Wednesday 8.30am to 6.30pm
• Thursday 8.30am to 6.30pm
• Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm

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

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
  
  
• Ensure persons employed in the provision of the regulated activity receive the appropriate training necessary to enable them to carry out the duties.
  
  
• Ensure recruitment procedures are established and operated effectively to ensure only fit and proper persons are employed and specified information is available regarding each person employed.

Full details of the regulation/s the provider was/is 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.
  
  
• 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.

We were told the provider became aware of the shortfalls during the two weeks prior to our visit and managers from three other practices were working to make improvements. The provider’s management team, who were present at the inspection, agreed with our findings.

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.