Updated 22 August 2022
We undertook a follow-up focused inspection of Ash Vale Dental Surgery on 8 August 2022.
This inspection was carried out to review, in detail, the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.
The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission, (CQC), inspector who was supported by a second Care Quality Commission inspector.
At our inspection on 11 January 2022 we found the registered provider was not providing safe and well-led care and was in breach of Regulation 12, 15, 17, 18 and 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for Ash Vale Dental Surgery on our website www.cqc.org.uk.
As part of this inspection we asked:
- Is it safe?
- Is it effective?
- Is it well-led?
When one or more of the five questions are not met, we require the service to make improvements and send us an action plan. We then inspect again after a reasonable interval, focusing on the area where improvement was required.
Our findings were:
Are services safe?
We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on 11 January 2022.
Are services effective?
We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on 11 January 2022.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on 11 January 2022.
Background
Ash Vale Dental Surgery is in Aldershot and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
There are steps into the practice. People are made aware of this when they make initial contact.
On-street car parking spaces are available outside the practice.
The dental team includes two dentists, two dental nurses and one receptionist.
The practice has two treatment rooms.
During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist and a dental nurse.
The practice was closed to patients on the day of our visit.
We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
- Monday 8.30am - 4.30pm
- Tuesday 8.30am - 4.30pm
- Wednesday 8.30am - 4.30pm
- Thursday 8.30am – 3.00pm
- Friday 8.30am – 12 noon
Our key findings were:
- Care and treatment were provided in a safe way to patients.
- The premises and equipment used by the service provider was fit for use.
- Effective systems and processes ensured good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
- Persons employed in the provision of the regulated activity received the appropriate support, training, professional development, supervision and appraisal necessary to enable them to carry out the duties.
- Recruitment procedures were established and operated effectively to ensure only fit and proper persons were employed and specified information was available regarding each person employed.
These improvements showed the provider had taken action to improve the quality of services for patients and comply with the regulations when we carried out a follow-up focused inspection on 8 August 2022.
We noted that the provider and lead nurse had completed a considerable amount of work to ensure that the practice now meets the regulations and that the improvements are sustainable moving forward.