Updated 19 April 2018
We carried out this announced inspection on 18 January 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.
We told the NHS England area team that we were inspecting the practice. They did not provide any information.
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
Dental Practice is in Addiscombe, Croydon and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.
There is level access via a portable ramp, for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available for patients in surrounding roads.
The dental team includes four dentists, three dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse, and one dental hygienist. One of the nurses also covers reception duties. The practice is set out over two levels. The ground floor has one treatment room, and there are three treatment rooms on the first floor as well as the patient waiting room. The practice also has a dedicated decontamination room and an X-ray room.
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 Dental Practice was one of the principal dentists.
On the day of inspection we collected five CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses (this included one nurse who was covering reception duties). We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Fridays. The practice closes from 1.00pm to 2.00pm for lunch. They also offer extended hours on a Thursday and close at 6.30pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice was 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 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 appointment system met patients’ needs.
- The practice had effective leadership. 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 dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
Review the practice’s protocols for referral of patients and ensure urgent referrals are monitored suitably.