Archived: Mike Allen's Dental Practice

We carried out this announced inspection on 29 January 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 providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Mike Allen's Dental Practice is in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The practice is situated in purpose-built premises and services are available over two floors. There is level access to the ground floor of the practice and a lift to the first floor for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available in the dedicated practice car park.

The dental team includes two dentists, five dental nurses, three dental hygienists and one receptionist. The practice has four treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. 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 47 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.

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

The practice is open:

Monday to Wednesday from 8.30am to 5.30pm.

Thursday from 2pm to 5.30pm.

Friday from 8.30m to 1pm.

Our key 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 with the exception of size two and four face masks for the self-inflating bag. These were ordered within 48 hours of the inspection.
• The dentists were not routinely following current guidance when prescribing medicines.
• The provider had some systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff. We found shortfalls in assessing and mitigating risks in relation to electrical wiring testing, and fire detection equipment maintenance.
• 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 continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided. In addition to this they employed an external company to conduct a patient satisfaction survey programme on a regular basis to drive improvement.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.

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

• Improve the practice's protocols for medicines management and ensure all medicines are prescribed and dispensed in accordance with published guidance.

• Improve the practice's systems for checking and monitoring equipment taking into account relevant guidance and ensure that all equipment is well maintained. In particular ensuring that fire alarm and emergency lighting servicing in undertaken in line with manufacturer’s instructions.