Updated 23 February 2021
We undertook a follow up inspection of The Dental Company Limited on 21 January 2021. This inspection was carried out to assess in detail the actions taken by the provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.
The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission, (CQC), inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
We undertook a comprehensive inspection of The Dental Company Limited on 7 January 2020 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We found the registered provider was not providing safe or well-led care and was in breach of regulations 12, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for The Health Centre Dental Practice and The Dental Company Limited on our website www.cqc.org.uk.
As part of this review we asked:
• Is it safe?
• Is it responsive to people’s needs?
• Is it well-led?
Our findings were:
Are services safe?
We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on 7 January 2020.
Are services responsive?
We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on 7 January 2020.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on 7 January 2020.
Background
The Dental Company Limited is in Bradford-on-Avon and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including those for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes four dentists, one implantologist, five dental nurses, two hygienists, one receptionist and one practice manager. The practice has six treatment room.
The practice is owned by a company 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 The Dental Company Limited is the area manager.
On the day of inspection we collected twenty CQC comment cards filled in by patients.
The practice is open:
- Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm.
- Saturdays by arrangement.
Our key findings were:
- Training had taken place in relation to emergencies for all staff in line with guidance.
- 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.
- Members of staff had completed safeguarding training.
- The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
- The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff told us they felt involved and supported.
- The provider had asked patients for feedback about the services they provided. Staff feedback was acquired.
- The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The provider ensured the security of NHS prescription pads in the practice and ensured systems were in place to track and monitor their use.
- The provider undertook audits for the prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.
- The provider had protocols for the use of closed-circuit television cameras taking into account the guidelines published by the Information Commissioner's Office.