Archived: The Ealing Dental Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 20 May 2015 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

The Ealing Dental Practice is located in the London Borough of Ealing and provides mainly private dental services but has a small percentage of NHs patients (approximately 5%). The demographics of the practice were mixed with patients from a range of backgrounds. This included a fair sized population of patients from Europe who live in the country for work purposes. The practice is open on Mondays from 9.00am – 7.00pm, Tuesdays 8.30am-5.30pm, Wednesdays 8.30am-5.30pm, Thursdays 8.00am – 4.30pm, Fridays 8.30-4.00pm and Saturdays 8.30-1.00pm. Facilities within the practice include three consultation rooms, waiting room and reception area, two administration offices, decontamination room and toilet facilities.

The inspection took place over one day and was undertaken by a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector and dental specialist adviser. We spoke with staff and reviewed policies and procedures and dental records. We received feedback from 16 patients.

The practice team included three dentists, two hygienists, two dental nurses, a practice manager and two receptionists.

The dentist is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

We found that this practice was providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Our key findings were:

• There were effective processes in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with best practice guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
• Patients were involved in their care and treatment planning
• Staff had access to development opportunities
• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties and equipment was well maintained. However the practice did not have access to an automated external defibrillator.
• Patients commented that staff were friendly and always showed dignity and respect towards them.
• There were processes in place for patients to give their comments and feedback about the service including making complaints and compliments.
• The principal dentist had a clear vision for the practice. Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice.

There were areas where the provider should make changes:

• Review availability of equipment to manage medical emergencies giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK), and the General Dental Council (GDC) standards for the dental team.
• Review storage of medicines to ensure they are stored safely at all times.
• Ensure the temperature of the refrigerator used to store medicines and dental products is recorded daily.