Updated 16 March 2020
We carried out this announced inspection on 6 February 2020 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.
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 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 caring?
We found this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services responsive?
We found this practice was providing responsive 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
Rendlesham Dental Practice is in Rendlesham, Suffolk 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 are available at the front and rear of the practice.
The dental team includes three dentists, four dental nurses including one lead dental nurse, a trainee dental nurse, two dental hygiene therapists, the practice manager and two receptionists. The practice has four treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.
On the day of inspection, we collected 20 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.
During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, the lead dental nurse and a dental nurse, one receptionist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday to Thursday from 8am to 5pm, Friday from 8am to 4pm and Saturday by appointment.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained. Patients commented that the practice was clean and always appeared hygienic.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- 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. However, not all dental sharp items had been stored appropriately.
- Dispensed medicines did not include the practice information on the labels. Not all prescription stationary was stored securely.
- 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. Patients commented staff were professional and friendly.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs. The practice ran a cancellation policy to offer short notice appointments to patients when they became available.
- The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The provider had information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Improve the practice’s sharps procedures to ensure the practice is in compliance with the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.
- Improve the security of NHS prescription pads in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor their use.