Torrance Dental Care

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 23 February 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 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 usually ask five key questions, however due to the ongoing pandemic and to reduce time spent on site, only the following three questions were asked:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

Our findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• 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 provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.

Background

Torrance Dental Care is in Finsbury Park, in the London Borough of Islington, and provides NHS dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is level access into the building for people who use wheelchairs or those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes eleven dentists, five dental nurses and four trainee dental nurses. They are supported by a practice manager, two administrators and three receptionists. The practice has seven treatment rooms and a separate decontamination room.

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

The practice is open:

Monday from 8am to 8pm.

Tuesday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.

Saturday from 9.30am to 6pm.

Sunday from 9.30am to 6pm.