RD DENTAL AND AESTHETICS

We carried out this announced inspection on 24 October 2019 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.

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

RD Dental is in Countesthorpe, a village in South Leicestershire and provides private dental treatment to adults and children.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. There are no car parking facilities on site, but public car parking is available on the street and in a public car park within short proximity of the premises. This includes parking for blue badge holders.

The dental team includes four dentists, three dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse, and a practice manager. The practice manager is also qualified as a dental nurse. Receptionist duties are covered by the dental nurses.

The practice has two treatment rooms; one on ground floor level.

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 RD Dental Ltd is the principal dentist.

We sent 50 comment cards in advance of our visit to the practice for patients to complete. On the day of inspection, we collected 21 CQC comment cards that had been filled in by patients. This represented a 42% response rate.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, one dental nurse, the trainee dental nurse and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures, patient feedback and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday 9.15am to 6.15pm, Tuesday 8.45am to 3.15pm, Wednesday 11.15am to 7.45pm, Thursday 8.15am to 1.15pm, Friday 8.15am to 3.45pm and alternate Saturdays by appointment only.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• The principal dentist had undertaken additional research to help enhance his knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• Staff were committed to their work. The provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider dealt with one complaint received positively and efficiently.
• The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.