Archived: Green Dental Care

Updated 10 March 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the practice was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection on 2 February 2016. The inspection team consisted of a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector and a dental specialist advisor.

Before the inspection we asked the for information to be sent, this included the complaints the practice had received in the last 12 months; their latest statement of purpose; the details of the staff members, their qualifications and proof of registration with their professional bodies. We spoke with six members of staff during the inspection.

We also reviewed the information we held about the practice and found there were no areas of concern.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, including the principal dentist and three dental nurses, who also worked as receptionists, and the practice manager. We reviewed policies, procedures and other documents. We received feedback from 17 patients about the dental service

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 therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 10 March 2016

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 2 February 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

Green Dental Care is situated over two floors of a health centre just outside Nottingham city centre. The practice was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in June 2011. The practice provides regulated dental services to patients from a wide area of Nottingham and the surrounding area. This was because the practice’s location on a main road into the city centre made it relatively easy for patients to attend who were not from the local area. The practice provides mostly NHS dental treatment. Services provided include general dentistry, dental hygiene, crowns and bridges, and root canal treatment.

The practice is open: Mondays to Thursdays: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, and Fridays: 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. The practice is closed at the weekend. Access for urgent treatment outside of opening hours is by ringing the practice and following the instructions on the answerphone message. Alternatively NHS patients should ring the 111 telephone number.

The practice has two dentists, one of whom was the principal dentist and owner of the business. There were five dental nurses who also worked on reception, one of whom was on maternity leave. There was one practice manager, an assistant manager and there was one further receptionist and an administrator in charge of training.

We received positive feedback from 17 patients about the services provided. This was through CQC comment cards left at the practice prior to the inspection and by speaking with patients in the practice.

Our key findings were:

• There were systems in place to record accidents, significant events and complaints, and any learning points from them were identified and shared with staff.
• The records showed that apologies had been given for any concerns or upset that patients had experienced.
• There was a whistleblowing policy and procedures and staff were aware of these procedures and how to use them. All staff had access to the whistleblowing policy.
• Patients spoke positively about the dental service they received.
• Patients said they were treated with dignity and respect.
• Records showed there were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• There was the necessary equipment for staff to deal with medical emergencies, and staff had been trained how to use that equipment. .
• The practice followed the relevant guidance from the Department of Health's: ‘Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM 01-05) for infection control.
• Patients’ were involved in discussions about the planning and delivery of care and treatment. Patient recall intervalswere in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.
• Treatment options were identified, explored and discussed with patients.
• Patients’ confidentiality was maintained.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Consider installing a hearing loop as a reasonable addition as identified in the Equality Act (2010).