Updated 18 November 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 25 October 2019 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 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 that this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services effective?
We found that this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services caring?
We found that this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services responsive?
We found that this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services well-led?
We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Woodford Green Dental Centre is in the London Borough of Redbridge. The practice provides NHS and private dental treatments to adults and children.
The practice is located close to public transport services. The practice is located on the ground and first floor of a purpose adapted building and has four treatment rooms, two of which is located on the ground floor.
The dental team includes the principal dentist, five associate dentists, four dental nurses and one trainee dental nurse. The clinical team are supported by a practice manager.
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.
We collected feedback from 72 patients who completed CQC comment cards.
During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, one associate dentist, two dental nurses, one receptionist / dental nurse and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open between:
10am and 7pm on Mondays.
8.30 am and 5pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Friday.
9am and 5pm on Thursdays.
The practices closes daily between 1pm and 2pm for lunch
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Some items of emergency equipment were not available on the day. These were ordered and procured promptly and were available for use.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff. Improvements were needed to the systems to ensure that the effectiveness of staff vaccinations against vaccine preventable infectious diseases is checked.
- The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
- 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. Improvements were needed to the arrangements for assessing and providing adjustments to meet the needs of people with disabilities.
- 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 culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Take action to ensure that all clinical staff have adequate immunity for vaccine preventable infectious diseases.
- Review the practice protocols regarding audits for prescribing antibiotic medicines, taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.
- Take action to ensure the service takes into account the needs of patients with disabilities and to comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.