Park Road Dental Surgery

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 14 June 2023 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 practice was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations.

The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission, (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 5 key questions:

• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• Is it caring?
• Is it responsive?
• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

Our findings were:

• The dental clinic appeared clean and well-maintained.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies although not all essential medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and staff took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• Patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
• Infection control procedures did not reflect published guidance.
• The practice did not have systems to manage risks for patients, staff, equipment and the premises.
• Recommended audits were not completed to help drive improvement in the practice.
• Overall governance systems in the practice needed to strengthen to ensure a safe service was provided.

Background

Park Road Dental Surgery is based in Wellingborough and provides both NHS funded and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The dental team includes a dentist, a trainee dental nurse, and 2 part-time receptionists. There is 1 treatment room. The premises are not accessible to wheelchair users.

During the inspection we spoke with the dentist, the trainee dental nurse and 1 receptionist.

We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open on Mondays from 9.30am to 5pm, on Tuesdays to Thursdays from 9am to 5pm, and on Fridays from 9am to 12.30pm.

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

• Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way for service users.

Full details of the regulation the provider was not meeting are at the end of this report.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Take action to ensure staff follow guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment.

• Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry.

• Take action to ensure all clinicians are adequately supported by a trained member of the dental team when treating patients in a dental setting taking into account the guidance issued by the General Dental Council.