Updated 31 October 2022
We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 27 September 2022 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 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:
- The dental clinic appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Improvements could be made to the arrangements to ensure appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment is available.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff. In some areas these had lapsed. The provider had taken action before the inspection to address these.
- Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation. Information about temporary staff was not always obtained from the agency.
- The 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.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
- There was a system to deal with complaints positively and efficiently.
Background
Wesley Dental Care is in Ossett and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children. The practice also provides NHS and private orthodontic treatment.
There is level access to the rear of the practice for people who use wheelchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes 1 dentist, 2 locum dental nurses, 1 decontamination operative and 1 receptionist. The practice has 2 treatment rooms.
During the inspection we spoke with the dentist, 2 locum dental nurses and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Thurs 8.45am to 5pm
Friday 8.45am to 4.30pm
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Take action to ensure the availability of medicines in the practice to manage medical emergencies taking into account the guidelines issued by the British National Formulary and the General Dental Council.
- Take action to implement any recommendations in the practice's Legionella risk assessment, taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices, and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.’ In particular, taking action to address dead legs.
- Take action to ensure audits of radiography and infection prevention and control are undertaken at regular intervals to improve the quality of the service. Practice should also ensure that, where appropriate, audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.
- Improve the security of NHS prescription pads in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor their use.
- Implement an effective recruitment procedure to ensure that appropriate checks are completed prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice.