The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Dolphins Dental

23 Park Hill Road, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 2AL (01803) 299510

Provided and run by:
Dr Sushil Kumar Jamnadas Dhanesha

Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile

All Inspections

29 September 2020

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Our key findings were:

  • Infection prevention and control procedures were being effectively followed.
  • Emergency equipment was provided in line with guidance.
  • A full range audits including antibiotic prescribing and infection prevention control had been implemented.
  • Staff had received relevant training in infection control, sepsis management and safeguarding.
  • A system to receive and, where relevant, act upon patient safety and dental medical devices alerts was in place.
  • An effective staff appraisal system was implemented in line with guidance.
  • Equipment was safe to use in line with manufacturers and servicing recommendations.

We are mindful of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this review. We will continue to discharge our regulatory enforcement functions required to keep people safe and to hold providers to account where it is necessary for us to do so.

03/03/2020

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced inspection on 3 March 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 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:

Are services safe?

We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was not providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Dolphins Positive Health is in Torquay and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The building is Grade II listed. There is step free access to the practice, via a temporary ramp, for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including parking for disabled people, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes one dentist, one dental nurse and one receptionist.

The practice has one treatment room.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

On the day of inspection, we collected 11 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with two other patients.

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

The practice is open:

  • Monday - 8.30am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 5.30pm
  • Tuesday - 8.30am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 5.30pm
  • Wednesday - 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 3.00pm
  • Thursday - 9.30am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 6.00pm
  • Friday - Closed
  • Saturday - Closed

Our key findings were:

  • The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
  • The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance. We found improvements were needed.
  • The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
  • The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
  • The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
  • The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
  • Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. We found improvements were needed to ensure appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were monitored to ensure their availability.
  • 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 asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
  • The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
  • The provider had information governance arrangements.

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

  • Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

Full details of the regulation 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.
  • Improve and develop the practice's current performance review systems and have an effective process established for the on-going assessment and supervision of all staff.

21 November 2013

During a routine inspection

On the day of our visit the team at Dolphins Dental comprised one dentist, a receptionist and a dental nurse. The practice provided out of hours dentistry to registered patients if required.

We spoke with two people during our visit who received treatment at the practice. Both of whom told us that they were very pleased with the dentist. One person told us 'I've been coming here over 15 years, it's very reliable.'

We spoke with three staff during our visit, including the provider who was also the dentist. Staff told us that they had received training in safeguarding vulnerable adults and child protection and that they understood how to recognise and report any concerns they had.

The provider kept staff up to date with the latest developments in dentistry through regular training. There were measures in place to deal with foreseeable emergencies. Staff had received first aid training and all required emergency equipment was up to date and easily accessible.

The practice was clean and tidy. Clinical areas and communal areas were spacious and well lit. One person told us 'It's always absolutely clean.'

The practice had checks in place to monitor the quality of care provided. The provider had initiated a new system to obtain feedback from people. One person had written 'I thoroughly recommend the whole practice. A first class service.'