Updated 22 January 2020
We carried out this announced inspection on 7 January 2020 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
Burnside Dental Surgery is a well-established practice that offers mostly private treatment to approximately 7,000 patients. It is based near Cambridge town centre. The dental team includes two dentists, four dental nurses, two hygienists, reception staff and a practice manager.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. There are dedicated parking spaces just outside the practice and on the nearby streets.
The practice is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Out of hours appointments are available by arrangement.
The practice is owned by a company 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 the practice is the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection, we collected 33 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. We spoke with the practice manager, two dentists, two dental nurses, and reception staff. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
Our key findings were:
- Patients were positive about all aspects of the service the practice provided and commented positively on the treatment they received, and of the staff who delivered it.
- Premises and equipment were clean and properly maintained and the practice followed national guidance for cleaning, sterilising and storing dental instruments.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- Patients’ care and treatment was provided in line with current guidelines.
- Staff felt respected, supported and valued.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the practice’s protocols for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment taking into account guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society.
- Review the practice's recruitment procedures to ensure that appropriate checks are completed prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice.
- Review the security of NHS prescription pads in the practice to ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor their use.