Archived: Gentle Dental Care - Wickham Road

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 18 May 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

Gentle Dental Care – Wickham Road is a dental surgery located in Croydon and provides a mixture of NHS and private dental services. The demographics of the local area were mixed and the practice served patients from a range of social, economic and ethnic backgrounds.

The practice staffing consists of five dentists, three dental nurses, three receptionists, two hygienists and a practice manager.

The practice is open from 9.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Fridays and Saturday by appointment. The practice is set out over one floor with five surgeries (only three were being used at the time of the inspection). There is step free access to the building and other facilities include three consultations rooms/ offices, two patient waiting areas, staff kitchen, two decontamination rooms and a reception area.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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.

The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist advisor.

We received feedback from 39 patients which included completed Care Quality Commission comment cards and speaking with patients during our inspection. Patient feedback was very positive about the service. They were also complimentary about the staff stating they were polite and courteous and provided excellent customer services. They told us that the premises were always clean and tidy when they attended. People referred to being treated with dignity and respect and receiving a high level of care and treatment.

Our key findings were:

• Systems were in place for the provider to receive safety alerts from external organisations and they were shared appropriately with staff.
• Processes were in place for staff to learn from incidents and lessons learnt were discussed amongst staff.
• There were systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. Dental instruments were decontaminated suitably.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance.
• Patients were involved in their care and treatment planning so they could make informed decisions.
• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was well maintained.
• Staff had access to an automated external defibrillator (AED) and medical oxygen.
• There were processes in place to safeguard patients from abuse.
• All clinical staff were up to date with their continuing professional development.
• The practice was carrying out risk assessments regularly.
• Governance arrangements were in place, including audits being completed which evidenced continuous learning.