Bridge House Dental Practice

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 31 October 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 ask 5 key 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:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures. Improvements were needed to decontamination equipment validation.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies.
• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The risks associated with fire had not been appropriately managed.
• 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 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.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.

Background

Bridge House Dental Practice is in Ripon and provides NHS and private dental care for adults and children.

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available on the road near the practice.

The dental team includes 5 dentists, 2 dental hygienists, 8 dental nurses and 1 receptionist. The practice has 4 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 2 dentists and 2 dental nurses. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

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

• Take action to ensure that all clinical staff have adequate immunity for vaccine preventable infectious diseases and ensure risk assessments are in place where immunity has not been reached.
• Improve the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices, and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’ In particular the frequency testing of the autoclave and ultrasonic equipment.
• Take action to implement any recommendations in the practice's fire safety risk assessment and ensure ongoing fire safety management is effective.