The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Park House Dental Practice

3 Union Terrace, Crediton, Devon, EX17 3DY (01363) 777202

Provided and run by:
Miss Kathryn Babos

All Inspections

25 January 2022

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 25 January 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 asked the following questions:

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. Improvements have taken place to ensure 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 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.

The provider had effective leadership and a culture of improvement.

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.

Background

Parkhouse Dental Practice is in Crediton and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is one ground floor treatment room. People with limited mobility or wheelchair users can access the practice via the rear of the building, avoiding the steps to the front of the property. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team consists of one dentist and one dental nurse.

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

The practice is open: Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm.

There was an area where the provider could make improvements. They should:

  • Improve the practice protocols regarding patient dental care records to check that necessary information is recorded.

5 August 2014

During a routine inspection

We spoke with three patients during our inspection. We looked at patient survey results. We spoke with one member of staff who worked at the practice, plus one dentist who was also the provider.

We asked five key questions:

Is the service safe? All the patients we spoke with told us they felt safe. Processes were in place to learn from accidents, emergencies, and complaints to reduce risks to patients.

Is the service effective? Patients told us they were given treatment choices and felt involved in their treatment. All of the patients we spoke with told us that their dental needs had been met by appropriate treatments. This indicated that the care and treatment they had received had been effective.

Is the service caring? Patients told us the staff at the practice were caring. We saw that patients were spoken to in a friendly but respectful manner. Patients told us that staff at this practice were caring and explained treatment choices to them.

Is the service responsive? We spoke with a patient who had attended for an emergency appointment. They told us they were very pleased to be seen very promptly by the dentist. Emergency appointment slots were made available daily.

Is the service well-led? Good leadership at the practice was evidenced by the quality assurance systems in place. The practice was small and processes and systems were in place but were informal. Staff meetings took place and staff told us they felt supported.

23 March 2012

During a routine inspection

People who visited Park House Dental Practice told us that friends and families had recommended the practice to them. One person we spoke with told us; 'I heard really positive things about the practice, I knew if I came here I would only see one dentist, it's good to have continuity of care'. Another person said when talking about the dentist and dental nurse; 'lovely, very approachable and kind'. They also said; 'I don't mind coming here when comparing this practice to other dental practices I have been to'.

During our visit people told us that their treatment was explained to them clearly and they were involved in the decision making process for their treatment options. One person told us that they had received root canal treatment. They said the dentist had talked through what would happen, why they needed it, if there was any other alternative. The person said the dentist was very approachable and they felt able to ask any questions about their treatment. Another person told us they had been asked what type of filling they would like have fitted.

During our visit we spoke with five people who used the service. They all told us that they found it easy to book appointments for routine treatment and would be seen within a reasonable amount of time. We spoke with a parent whose child had been bought in for an emergency appointment. They told us they had called in the morning and were being seen the same day.