16 March 2016
During a routine inspection
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 16 March 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?
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
Mydentist, Scarborough is situated in the centre of Scarborough, North Yorkshire close to public transport links. The practice has two treatment rooms, one on the ground floor and one on the first floor, a waiting area, a reception area, a decontamination room. Staff facilities were located on the fourth floor with offices located on the third floor.
There is step free access to the practice to help anyone with mobility requirements. There are two Dentists, a practice manager, a lead Dental Nurse, three Dental Nurses (two of which are trainees) and a full team of support through the company structure.
The practice is open:
Monday – Friday 08:30 – 17:30.
The practice manager is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.
On the day of inspection we received 23 CQC comment cards providing feedback. The patients who provided feedback were very positive about the care and attention to treatment they received at the practice. They told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be friendly, helpful, caring and considerate especially with children and they were treated with dignity and respect in a clean and tidy environment.
Our key findings were:
- Staff had received safeguarding training, knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report it. They had very good systems in place to work closely and share information with the local safeguarding team.
- There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
- Staff had been trained to manage medical emergencies.
- Patient care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current regulations.
- Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
- Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
- There was a complaints system in place. Staff recorded complaints and cascaded learning to staff.
- The governance systems were effective.
- The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:
- Provide a lock for the clinical waste storage area, ensure sufficient collections or larger storage facilities are available to prevent overflow to ensure it is all stored securely.
- Review the practice protocol for audits, including X-ray and patient dental care records to ensure the audits have documented learning points and action plans so the resulting improvements can be demonstrated and reviewed.
- Review awareness around guidelines including: Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP), National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).