Updated 1 September 2023
We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 16 August 2023 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 practice 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 advisor.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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:
- The dental clinic appeared clean and well-maintained.
- Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Staff took care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
- Staff felt involved, supported and worked as a team.
- Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
- Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
- Sedation procedures were not in line with guidelines published by The Intercollegiate Advisory Committee on Sedation in Dentistry in the document 'Standards for Conscious Sedation in the Provision of Dental Care’ 2015.
- There was no system in place to ensure that all equipment was safe to use, maintained and serviced according to manufacturers’ instructions.
Background
Jim Peirson Dental Health Care provides mostly NHS dental care and treatment for adults and children. In addition to general dentistry, the practice also offers inhalation sedation services.
The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with access requirements including ramp access, ground floor treatment rooms and a fully accessible toilet.
The dental team includes a dentist, a practice manager, a dental hygienist, a dental therapist and 6 dental nurses.
During the inspection we spoke with the dentist, the practice manager, the dental hygienist and 2 dental nurses. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.
The practice is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8am to 8pm; on Wednesdays from 8am to 5pm, and on Fridays from 8am to 1pm.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- 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.
- Ensure all sedation procedures are in line with guidelines published by The Intercollegiate Advisory Committee on Sedation in Dentistry in the document 'Standards for Conscious Sedation in the Provision of Dental Care 2015'. In particular, ensuring that patients’ clinical signs are monitored throughout the procedure and that staff have immediate life support training for both adults and children.
- Ensure the prescribing of antibiotic medicines takes into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry.
- Implement a system to ensure that fixed wire electrical testing is undertaken every 5 years, the relative analgesia machine is serviced regularly and that all nitrous oxide cannisters are kept in date.