Updated 22 September 2022
We carried out this announced focused inspection on 5 August 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 usually ask five key questions, however due to the ongoing COVID-19 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 dental clinic was visibly clean and well-maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- 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.
- There were effective arrangements in place to ensure that all dental equipment was safe for use.
- The practice had some systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff. However, improvements were needed to ensure that there were effective arrangements for the ongoing management and mitigation of fire risks.
- Improvements were needed for ensure that NHS prescription pads were stored securely and there were systems in place to track and monitor their use.
- The practice had staff recruitment procedures which broadly reflected current legislation. Improvements could be made to ensure that necessary recruitment checks, including obtaining satisfactory evidence of conduct in previous employment, were undertaken at the time of staff’s commencement of employment with the provider.
- There was effective leadership and the practice demonstrated a culture of continuous improvement. Improvements could be made to ensure that annual appraisal of staff were carried out.
Background
Dental Surgery is in Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent, and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes the principal dentist, one qualified dental nurse, three trainee dental nurses, who also carry out reception duties, and one part-time hygienist. The practice has two treatment rooms, a combined reception/waiting area and a separate decontamination room.
During the inspection we spoke with the dentist, the qualified dental nurse and one trainee dental nurse. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm.
Friday 9am to 3pm.
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 College of General Dentistry (CGDent).
- Improve the practice`s recruitment procedures to ensure appropriate checks are completed prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice.
- Improve and develop the practice`s current performance review systems and have effective processes established for the ongoing assessment of all staff.
- Take action to implement any recommendations in the practice's fire safety risk assessment and ensure ongoing fire safety management is effective.
- Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry when completing dental care records.
- Improve the security of NHS prescription pads in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor their use.