29 January 2014
During a routine inspection
People told us that their dentist explained treatments to them and they were asked to update their medical history prior to the commencement of any treatment. They told us they gave consent before the dentist proceeded with treatment. People said they felt their privacy was respected. Although the complaints procedure was displayed in the waiting area, people said they did not know how to make a complaint. They did say however, that they would not hesitate to complain to the dentist or receptionist, in the first instance.
We looked at the NHS Choices website that was designed for people to 'post' messages about their experience at NHS services. There were varied comments made by people. Some were happy with the service they received whilst others showed dissatisfaction. In most cases the practice responded to the comments.
We spoke with a range of staff. They told us they felt supported and felt there was good team working. They were aware of their responsibilities in respect of the protection of children and vulnerable adults and one member of staff said that they "Recognised the importance of supporting nervous people".
People had access to a range of information about dental treatments, costs for treatment and the complaints procedure. When they visited the dentist their medical history was checked and they were given information about treatment options. People gave consent before treatment commenced.
Every effort was made to protect people. Staff were trained in radiation protection and dealing with medical emergencies. Equipment used for the taking of x-rays was serviced regularly and x-rays were graded to ensure they were of good quality. There were medicines for use in medical emergency along with oxygen and an external defibrillator.
The premises were clean and tidy and there were good arrangements for infection control.
Staff meetings were held and appraisals were carried out annually. There were good opportunities for staff training.
People were consulted about their experiences at the practice and there was both external monitoring and internal audits carried out to monitor the quality of the service.
The records we examined were of good quality and met expectations in respect of clinical record keeping.