Your DentalCare - Bexhill-On-Sea Practice

We carried out this unannounced focused inspection on 25 January 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 provider 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 three questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it well-led?

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

Our findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean, there were areas that require maintenance.
• The provider had infection control procedures which did not wholly reflect published guidance.
• We were not assured staff knew how to deal with emergencies as some had not completed training. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The provider had some systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff. However, this required improvement.
• The provider had safeguarding processes. We were not assured staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures which did not reflect current legislation.
• 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.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.

Background

Your Dentalcare Bexhill on Sea Practice is in Bexhill on Sea and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is stepped access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes two dentists, a dental nurse, a dental hygienist and a practice manager. The practice has two treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with a dentist, the dental nurse, and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

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

• Care and treatment must be provided in a safe way for service users
• Systems or processes must be established and operated effectively to ensure compliance with the requirements of the fundamental standards as set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014

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

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

Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.