Updated 10 October 2017
We carried out this announced inspection on 21 September 2017 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 provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
We told the NHS England area team that we were inspecting the practice. They did not provide any information of concern.
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 form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.
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 Westcliffe Drive is situated in the north of Blackpool and provides NHS and some private treatment to patients of all ages.
There is ramp access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available on the road near the practice.
The dental team includes four dentists, five dental nurses, of which four are trainee dental nurses, one dental hygienist, a practice manager and a receptionist. The practice has six treatment rooms of which three are situated on the ground floor.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager.
Registered managers have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.
The registered manager at MyDentist Westcliffe Drive was the practice manager.
On the day of inspection we collected one CQC comment card filled in by patients and reviewed information available to us electronically. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, one dental nurse, the caretaking practice manager from a sister practice, a regulatory officer, the area manager and the clinical support manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday 9am – 7pm and Tuesday to Friday 9am – 5pm.
Our key findings were:
• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• The staff mix of dental nurses was not robust, however the practice manager was aware of this and had systems in place to support the trainee dental nurses. A recruitment drive was on-going.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.