Chester Dental Clinic

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on Chester Dental Clinic on 16 November 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 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 adviser.

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 was visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The infection control procedures reflected published guidance, but staff did not follow decontamination processes consistently.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available. Additional adrenaline was obtained after the inspection.
• The managers had taken action to improve the systems to identify and manage risk to patients and staff.
• 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. Some information was missing from electronic staff files.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and staff 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.
• There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
• There were systems to deal with complaints.

Background

The provider has 37 practices and this report is about Chester Dental Clinic.

Chester Dental Clinic is in Chester town centre and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

Access is not possible for wheelchair users. Car parking, including spaces for blue badge holders, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes 1 dentist, 1 dental nurse, 1 dental therapist and a practice manager who is supported by a regional manager. In addition, the practice used agency staff where necessary. The practice has 3 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with the dentist, 3 dental nurses including 2 agency dental nurses, the dental therapist, the practice manager and the company regional manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Friday from 8.45am to 5.45pm

Saturday from 9am to 5pm by prior appointment only

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

• Improve the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices, and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’.

• Improve the practice's protocols and procedures for the use of X-ray equipment in compliance with The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 and Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 and taking into account the guidance for Dental Practitioners on the Safe Use of X-ray Equipment.

• 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: Decontamination in primary care dental practices, and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.’

• Improve the practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure accurate, complete and detailed records are maintained for all staff.