Updated 17 August 2021
We carried out this announced focused inspection on 2 August 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 a specialist dental adviser.
As part of this inspection we asked:
• 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 providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Brook House Dental Practice is in the village of Moreton Morrell approximately seven miles south of Warwick 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 dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes four dentists, three dental nurses and one receptionist. The practice has one treatment room.
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, two dental nurses and one receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 5pm.
Wednesday from 9am to 7pm.
Friday from 8.30am to 3pm.
Saturday Private Clinic from 9.30am to 3pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
- 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. However, we found three items were not in held in accordance with the resuscitation council guidelines. These were ordered during the inspection.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff. We found electrical wiring testing and air conditioning unit servicing were overdue. We were shown evidence during the inspection that they were scheduled for completion in August 2021.
- 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 provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement. Record keeping audits were last completed in September 2019 and antimicrobial prescribing audits had not been completed. These had been scheduled for completion in the next three months.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- 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:
- Review the practice's systems for checking and monitoring premises maintenance taking into account relevant guidance and ensure that all services are well maintained. In particular ensuring that five-year fixed electrical wire testing and air conditioning unit servicing are completed within relevant timeframes.
- Take action to ensure audits of record keeping and antimicrobial prescribing are undertaken at regular intervals to improve the quality of the service. Practice should also ensure that, where appropriate, audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.
- Take action to ensure the availability of equipment in the practice to manage medical emergencies taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council.