Updated 1 July 2021
We carried out this announced inspection on 8 June 2021 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 Care Quality Commission, (CQC), inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
As part of this inspection we asked:
• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• 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 well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Prestige Dental Care is in Bedworth, Warwickshire and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children. This provider has two locations registered under the same name which are located less than a five-minute walk from one another. Governance arrangements and staffing are the same between both locations. This report only relates to the provision of general dental care provided by Prestige Dental Care, Church Way. An additional report is available in respect of the general dental care services which are registered under Prestige Dental Care, Congreve Walk.
There is not level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Patients requiring wheelchair access are seen at Prestige Dental Care, Congreve Walk which is in the same building block. Car parking spaces are available free of charge across the road from the practice or in local pay and display car parks. The practice is situated close to the town centre and can be accessed by bus or train.
The dental team includes 12 dentists, eight dental nurses (six of whom are trainees), one receptionist, one practice manager (who is a qualified dental nurse) and two area managers (both of whom are qualified dental nurses). All staff work across both Prestige Dental Care locations in Church Way and Congreve Walk. The practice has four treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by a partnership and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC 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 Prestige Dental Care is the principal dentist.
During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, three dental nurses (two of whom are trainees), the practice manager and two area managers. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8.30am to 6pm.
Thursday from 8.30am to 8pm.
Saturday from 8.30am to 4pm.
Our key findings were:
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance. However, we found shortfalls during the inspection that the provider has addressed.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
- 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.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- Staff we spoke with told us they felt involved and supported. At the time of our visit we found only one of five staff members had been appraised since 2019.
- The provider had information governance arrangements.
- We identified several minor shortfalls during our inspection. However, the provider responded swiftly to these and following our inspection we were sent evidence to demonstrate that many of them had been addressed. This assured us that the provider took our concerns seriously.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Improve the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’. In particular ensuring instruments are stored appropriately, infection control procedures are followed when decontaminating instruments and chairs and cabinetry are able to be cleaned effectively.
- Develop systems to ensure an effective process is established for the on-going assessment, supervision and appraisal of all staff.
- Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.
- Implement an effective system for identifying, disposing and replenishing of out-of-date stock.