The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

York Dental Care

56 York Street, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 2DL (01200) 539136

Provided and run by:
York Dental Care

Important: The provider of this service changed - see old profile

All Inspections

2 June 2023

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced inspection on 2 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 advisor.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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 clean.
  • Improvements were needed to ensure infection prevention and control protocols were in accordance with national guidance.
  • Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
  • The practice had systems to manage risks for patients, staff, equipment and the premises.
  • The risks associated with Legionella needed review.
  • 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.
  • Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
  • Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Staff took care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
  • Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
  • The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
  • The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
  • Patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
  • The practice had information governance arrangements.

Background

York Dental Care is in Clitheroe and provides NHS and some private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is step free access to the practice ( via a portable ramp) for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with access requirements.

The dental team includes 2 dentists and 3 dental nurses (2 of whom are trainees).

During the inspection we spoke with 1 dentist and 2 dental nurses. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.

The practice is open: from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

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

  • Improve the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols, in particular the repair and maintenance of the floor to the ground floor surgery and fixtures in the decontamination room.
  • 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’. In particular ensure staff who take the lead on legionella are suitably trained and that when water temperatures fall outside safe parameters action is immediately taken.
  • Improve the process for ensuring all clinical staff have evidence of immunity to the Hepatitis B virus.

12 May 2015

During a routine inspection

We carried out a comprehensive inspection at York Dental Care on 12 May 2015.

The practice provides mainly primary dental services to NHS patients (adults and children). In addition a range of private treatments are available. The practice is open Tuesday to Friday between the hours of 9am and 5pm. On Monday the opening hours are 9am to 6pm.

York Dental Care has two dentists one of whom is the registered provider and manager for the service. The registered manager and provider is the person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and who is legally responsible for making sure the practice meets the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

The two dentists are supported by a registered dental nurse and three trainee dental nurses one of whom is also the receptionist. At the time of our inspection there was one dentist on duty.

We spoke with two patients who used the service on the day of our inspection and reviewed 11 CQC comment cards that had been completed by patients prior to the inspection. The patients we spoke with were very complimentary about the service. They told us they found the staff to be professional and welcoming and felt they were treated with respect. The comments on the CQC comment cards were very positive about the staff, the facilities and services provided. Patients were particularly complimentary about the extensive upgrading of the ground floor which had recently been undertaken and had improved the waiting and reception area.

During the inspection we toured the premises and spoke with staff. This included the dentist on duty and two trainee dental nurses. To assess the quality of care provided by the practice, we looked at practice policies and protocols and other records.

The provider was providing care which was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led and the regulations were being met.

Our key findings were as follows:

• There were systems in place for staff to report accidents and incidents. There were sufficient staff on duty to deliver the service. There was enough equipment available for staff to undertake their duties and we saw the premises were maintained to a good standard and clean and tidy.

• Patient’s needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with current guidance. We were told that this included the promotion of good oral health. We saw evidence staff had received training appropriate to their roles and training needs were identified and planned through the appraisal process. Staff had been trained to handle emergencies and appropriate medicines were available.

• The patients we spoke with and all the comment cards we reviewed indicated that patients were consistently treated with kindness and respect by staff. It was reported that communication with patients and their families was very good with clear explanations being given about proposed treatments, benefits, options, risks involved and costs. Patients reported good access to the practice with emergency appointments available the same day.

• The practice actively sought feedback from staff and patients about the service they provided and implemented actions to improve the practice. There was a range of clinical and non-clinical audits to monitor the quality of the service.

• The practice was well led and staff on duty told us they felt supported by the dentists and that they felt involved and worked as a team. Staff reported that patients were at the heart of the practice. This included the promotion of good oral health. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and there was an effective appraisal system in place.

There were also areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

  • Consider providing all staff with training and guidance in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
  • Ensure all audits are clearly dated and consider carrying out a second cycle of audits to demonstrate improvement.
  • Ensure that all policies are clearly dated to show the date of completion and review.

8 July 2013

During a routine inspection

People told us they were very satisfied with the care and treatment provided at York Dental Care. One person said, 'Everything is very good, the dentist is always very helpful' and another person commented, 'I'm very pleased and always satisfied with the service I receive'.

People spoken with confirmed they were involved in their treatment plan and said they had discussed various treatment options with their dentist. People also said they were treated with respect and their queries were answered in a sensitive and understanding manner.

Staff had an understanding of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults procedures and knew who to contact in the event of a concern.

People were treated in a clean environment and comprehensive arrangements were in place for the safe decontamination of reusable instruments and equipment.

People were aware how they could raise any concerns and suitable arrangements were in place to respond to any complaints. None of the people spoken with had any concerns about the service.