Dr K Brophy Dental Surgery

Updated 29 July 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the practice was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

The inspection took place on 05 January and was conducted by a CQC inspector and two dental specialist advisors.

We informed NHS England area team and Healthwatch that we were inspecting the practice on 29 October 2015; we did receive some information of concern from them with regard to poor infection control and maintenance of the premises and equipment.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, three dental nurses and the practice compliance manager. We spoke with six patients who were all complimentary about the services they had received.

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 therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 29 July 2016

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 05 January 2016 as we had received concerning information with regard to infection control and the condition of some of the equipment. We asked the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Dr K Brophy Dental Surgery provides predominately NHS dental services with private treatment options available for patients. The practice has three consulting and treatment rooms, three dentists who are supported by four dental nurses and a student nurse. The practice also has two dental hygienists, who provided preventative advice and treatments on prescription from the dentists. The practice also provides sedation for its patient population and on referral from other practices in the area. This service is facilitated by a visiting anaesthetist. The practice is managed by the principal dentist who is the owner and supports the whole team.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

We were unable to review Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards completed by patients as this was an unannounced inspection. We did review feedback from patients who had completed the ‘Friends and Family Test’ comment cards and found that the feedback was positive.

Our key findings were:

• Staff reported incidents and kept records of these which the practice used for shared learning.
• The practice was generally clean but there were areas that needed improvement.
• Staff routinely followed protocols with regard to decontamination of instruments.
• Areas of the practice and some of the equipment had not been maintained to a sufficient standard. However this was rectified following our visit.
• Staff had received some mandatory training.
• Radiography was carried out in line with current regulations.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with current best practice guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and other published guidance.
• The practice had effective safeguarding processes and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children living in vulnerable circumstances.
• The practice took into account any comments, concerns or complaints.
• Patients were pleased with the care and treatment they received and complimentary about the dentists and all other members of the practice team.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Arrange and carry out regular staff meetings