Archived: The Dental Suite

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 27 August 2015 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

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

The Dental Suite was registered in August 2013 to provide dental services to patients in West Bridgeford and the surrounding areas in the county of Nottinghamshire. The practice provides private dental treatment. Services provided include general dentistry, dental hygiene, porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, crowns and bridges, root canal treatment, cosmetic dentistry and dental implants. The practice has a combined reception and waiting area on the ground floor and treatment rooms on the ground and first floor. The practice is open Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Early mornings, evenings and Saturday appointments were by appointment only.

The practice has six dentists, one hygienists/ therapists, four dental nurses and a practice manager. Dental nurses also act as receptionists.

The provider is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

We viewed 51 Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards that had been completed by patients, about the services provided. We saw that all 51 comment cards had positive comments. Patients said they were happy with the service provided. In addition, we spoke with two patients who said they were happy with the dental service they were receiving. Patients said they were treated well at the practice. Patients said they were able to ask questions, and the dentist explained the treatment options and costs.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had systems for recording accidents, significant events and complaints. Learning from complaints and significant incidents were recorded and learning was shared with staff.
• The practice had provided training in safeguarding and whistle blowing for all staff, and staff were aware of these procedures and the actions required.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies.
• Emergency medicines and life-saving equipment were readily available.
• The practice followed the relevant guidance (Department of Health's guidance, ‘Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM 01-05) for infection control.
• Patients’ care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
• Patients were involved in making decisions about their treatment, and options were identified and explored with them.
• Patients’ confidentiality was maintained.
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they received.

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

• Update the Disability Discrimination Act assessment with particular reference to the raised chairs in the waiting room and the need for a pull cord/ alarm in the patients’ toilet.

• Carry out a cleaning audit with particular reference to high dusting and cleaning extractor fans.
• Update the audit of sedation which noted whether or not sedation had been uneventful but did not give any detail of adverse events, analysis of causes or lessons learned.
• Carry out and record regular checks of the refrigerator temperature where medicines and other clinical items were stored.