Updated 6 March 2020
We carried out this announced inspection on 12 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
Cherry Tree Dental is in Blackburn 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. Dedicated parking for people with disabilities are available directly behind the practice. Additional street parking is available.
The dental team includes two dentists, four dental nurses (one of which manages the practice and one is a clinical lead. The other two are trainees). An implant dentist attends as required. The practice has three 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 Cherry Tree Dental is the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection, we collected 28 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. These provided a positive view of the dental team and care provided by the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses (the clinical lead 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, Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 6pm
Wednesday 11am till 8pm
Friday 9am till 1pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared to be visibly clean, tidy and well-maintained.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Immediate action was taken to obtain additional emergency adrenaline and dispersible aspirin.
- The provider had systems to help them identify and 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. Improvements could be made to the oversight of the dental implant service.
- 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.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- 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 and develop the practice's policies and procedures for obtaining patient consent to care and treatment for dental implants to ensure they are in compliance with legislation, take into account relevant guidance, and staff follow them.
- Take action to ensure dentists are aware of the guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment.