Archived: Bupa Dental Care St Albans

Updated 16 May 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the practice was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection on 31 March 2016. The inspection was carried out by two CQC inspectors. Prior to the inspection we reviewed information submitted by the provider.

During our inspection visit, we reviewed policy documents and staff records. We spoke with five members of staff, which included an associate dentist, one dental hygienist, two dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse and the practice manager. We conducted a tour of the practice and looked at the storage arrangements for emergency medicines and equipment. We reviewed the practice’s decontamination procedures of dental instruments and also observed staff interacting with patients in the waiting area.

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 therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 16 May 2016

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 31 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

Oasis Dental Care St Albans is located in the county of Hertfordshire and provides mainly private dental treatment to both adults and children. The premises are on the ground floor and consist of four treatment rooms, a reception area and a dedicated decontamination room. The practice is open Monday to Thursday 8:00am – 7:00pm and Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm.

The staff consists of five associate dentists, two dental hygienists, one dental nurse, one dental nurse who is also the practice coordinator, one dental nurse who is also the receptionist, one trainee dental nurse and the practice manager.

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.

We reviewed four CQC comment cards. Patients were positive about the service. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the staff.

The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by two CQC inspectors.

Our key findings were:

• There were appropriate equipment and access to emergency drugs to enable the practice to respond to medical emergencies. Staff knew where equipment was stored.

• Staff were aware of their responsibilities under the Duty of Candour.

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

• We found the dentists regularly assessed each patient’s gum health and took X-rays at appropriate intervals.

• Patients were involved in their care and treatment planning so they could make informed decisions.

• There were effective processes in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.

• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and child protection

• Equipment, such as the air compressor, autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.

• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.

• The practice had implemented clear procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.

• Patients indicated that they found the team to be efficient, professional, caring and reassuring.

• Patients had good access to appointments including emergency appointments.

• Leadership structures were clear and there were processes in place for dissemination of information and feedback to staff.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review its audit protocols to document learning points that are shared with all relevant staffand ensure that the resulting improvements can be demonstrated as part of the audit process.

• Review the protocols and procedures to ensure staff are up to date with their mandatory training and their Continuing Professional Development.