Updated 31 May 2017
Background
DK Dental Practice is in Weymouth and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.
Car parking spaces, including parking for patients with disabled badges, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes two dentists, three trainee dental nurses/receptionists, one dental hygienist, one receptionist and one dental technician. The practice has two treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.
On the day of inspection we collected 50 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with three other patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, three trainee dental nurses/receptionists and one dental technician. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday or at other times by arrangement.
Our key findings were:
- The practice was clean and well maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
- The practice 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.
- The appointment system met patients’ needs.
- The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:
- Review stocks of equipment and the system for identifying, disposing and replenishing of out-of-date stock.
- Review the practices sharps procedures taking into account the Health and safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) regulations 2013
- Review availability of medicines and equipment to manage medical emergencies taking into account guidelines issued by the British National Formulary, the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council (GDC) standards for the dental team.
- Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols taking into account guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and giving due regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’.
- Review the processes to ensure that significant incidents involving the practice were documented and evaluated.