The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Dean Kennedy - Market Street

18 Market Street, Whaley Bridge, High Peak, Derbyshire, SK23 7LP (01663) 733850

Provided and run by:
Dean Kennedy Limited

All Inspections

3 May 2023

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 3 May 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.
  • The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance. Improvements should be made to the system for testing the ultrasonic cleaner.
  • Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available. The frequency of checks of the equipment and medicines should be increased.
  • The practice had systems to manage risks for patients, staff, equipment and the premises.
  • Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
  • The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
  • Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
  • Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Staff took care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
  • Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
  • The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
  • The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
  • There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
  • 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.
  • The practice had information governance arrangements.

Background

Dean Kennedy Market Street is in Whaley Bridge and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The practice is mostly on the ground floor with two small steps at the entrance. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, are available near the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with access requirements.

The dental team includes 1 dentist, 1 dental nurse and 1 receptionist. The practice currently has 1 treatment room.

During the inspection we spoke with the dentist, the dental nurse and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.

The practice is open: 8:30am to 7pm on Monday and Thursday, 8:30am to 5:30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday and 8:30am to 1pm on Friday.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

  • Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry.

  • Implement an effective system for monitoring and recording the fridge temperature to ensure that medicines and dental care products are being stored in line with the manufacturer’s guidance.

  • Implement an effective system of checks of medical emergency equipment and medicines taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK).

7 January 2014

During an inspection looking at part of the service

During our last inspection of Dean Kennedy - Market Street in May 2013 we found that whilst patients were happy with the care and treatment they were receiving, they were not always being provided with appropriate information such as details of the costs of treatment or information on how they could raise a complaint or concern.

We also found that paper records and some medicines were not being appropriately stored and that audits were not always being completed. The provider had not ensured that appropriate checks had been undertaken for staff members before they started work.

During this inspection we found that the provider had made a number of improvements to the surgery, including providing a patient information booklet which gave clear details on costs of treatments and how to raise any concerns. Information leaflets were also available on common treatments or dental problems.

Appropriate storage was in place for patients paper records and for the storage of medicines. This helped to ensure patients confidential information was kept securely and that patients were protected from the risks associated with the unsafe use of medicines.

Audits of the cleanliness of the practice and of patient feedback were being completed more frequently and the results were reviewed and action plans put into place. This showed that patients and staff were being asked for their views about the service and that they were being acted upon.

13 May 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with three patients who had come for appointments. They were all private patients and were very happy with the treatment they had received. All of the patients felt that the dentist had explained their treatment. Patients told us 'The dentist is very reassuring; he helps me to relax and not get worked up', and 'I'm happy here, it's why I've been coming for so long.'

We found that patients' needs were assessed and that they were asked to complete a medical history questionnaire before being seen in the surgery. This information was then reviewed with the patients at subsequent visits. We found however, that patients were not always being given appropriate information about their treatment, such as details of costs of treatment or how they could raise a complaint or concern.

We found that the decontamination room in the practice, where instruments are cleaned and sterilised, was in the process of being refurbished at the time of our visit. Temporary arrangements had been made to use a downstairs surgery whilst works were completed.

We observed that patients paper records and some medicines were not being stored securely. This meant that patients could not be assured that their confidentiality was protected or that they were protected against the risks of the unsafe use of medicines.

We also found that audits of the service, including patient records, x-rays or infection control, were not being completed.