Updated 16 December 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 26 November 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
Queensway Dental Clinic Jesmond is in Newcastle Upon Tyne and provides solely private dental treatment to adults and children. General dental treatment and specialist dental care (orthodontic treatment, dental implants and conscious sedation) is available to patients. The practice has three sister practices in the region.
The practice is in a three-storey building with access via the ground floor. There are steps in front of the building and a portable ramp is available for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice for permit holders only. There are dedicated parking permits for patients at reception, and this is made known to patients in the practice leaflet.
The dental team includes three specialist orthodontists, four dentists, a maxillo-facial surgeon, two orthodontic therapists, a dental therapist, seven dental nurses, a sterilisation technician and two receptionists. A senior dental nurse / practice manager, clinical governance lead, treatment co-ordinator and business development manager support the dental team. The practice has four treatment rooms, two treatment co-ordinator rooms, two nurse-led clinic rooms, and a sedation recovery room.
The practice is owned by a partnership 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 Queensway Dental Clinic Jesmond is the clinical governance lead.
On the day of inspection, we collected 10 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, the senior dental nurse, the sterilisation technician, a receptionist and the clinical governance lead. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.
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. Risk management systems in relation to fire, sharps’ injuries, clinical waste, radiation protection and lone working should be reviewed.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 complaints positively and efficiently.
- The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Improve the practice's protocols and procedures for the use of X-ray equipment in compliance with The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 and Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 and taking into account HPA-CRCE-010 Guidance on the Safe Use of Dental Cone Beam (Computed Tomography).
- Take action to implement any recommendations in the practice's fire safety risk assessment and ensure ongoing fire safety management is effective.
- Improve the practice's systems for assessing, monitoring and mitigating the various risks arising from the undertaking of the regulated activities. In particular, ensure there is information for staff to seek medical advice and assistance in the event of a sharps’ injury, review clinical waste collection methods and complete a lone working risk assessment for the cleaner.