Eurodental Oxford

We carried out this announced inspection on 8 November 2021 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 two specialist dental advisers.

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 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 well-led?

We found this practice was not providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Euro Dental Surgery is in Headington, Oxford and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The practice is based on the first floor above a fast food business. Patients who find stairs a barrier are advised to seek dental treatment elsewhere. Car parking, including dedicated parking for disabled people, is available near the practice.

The dental team includes two dentists, one dental hygienist, one dental hygienist who is also a trainee dental nurse, a second trainee dental nurse, two receptionists and a practice manager. The practice manager offers remote business support to the provider and does not routinely attend the practice.

The practice has two 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.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists and one trainee dental nurse , a 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 8.30am to 7.30pm
• Tuesday 8.30am to 5.30pm
• Wednesday 8.30am to 7.30pm
• Thursday 8.30am to 5.30pm
• Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm
• Saturday 9.00am to 2.00pm

The practice closes for lunch between 1.00pm and 2.00pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean.
• The provider had infection control procedures which generally reflected published guidance, but improvements were needed.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies.
• Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available, but improvements were needed to ensure that all emergency equipment was in date.
• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider’s staff recruitment procedures were not operated effectively.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff. Specifically, risks associated with radiation, fire and protection from blood borne viruses.
• The provider had information governance arrangements and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• 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.

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
  
  
• Ensure recruitment procedures are established and operated effectively to ensure only fit and proper persons are employed and specified information is available regarding each person employed.