Updated 1 October 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 3 September 2019 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 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 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
Zandielle Dental Practice is based in Attleborough and offers private dental treatment and facial aesthetics to patients. The practice has two dental surgeries and the dental team includes three dentists, a hygienist, a practice manager and two dental nurses.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.
The practice opens from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. Evening and Saturday appointments are available for patients on request.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run. The registered manager at the practice is the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection, we received feedback from 34 patients. We spoke with the principal dentist, the practice manager, a nurse and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
Our key findings were:
- Patients were positive about all aspects of the service the practice provided and commented highly of the treatment they received, and of the staff who delivered it.
- Premises and equipment were clean and properly maintained and the practice followed national guidance for cleaning, sterilising and storing dental instruments.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- 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.
- Patients received their care and treatment from well supported staff, who enjoyed their work.
- Members of the dental team were up-to-date with their continuing professional development and were supported to meet the requirements of their professional registration.
- Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should
- Review the practice’s sharps procedures to ensure the practice is in compliance with the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.
- Implement an effective recruitment procedure to ensure that appropriate checks are completed prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice.
- Review the fire safety risk assessment and ensure that any actions required are completed and ongoing fire safety management is effective.
- Review the availability of equipment in the practice to manage medical emergencies taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council.
- Review the practice's complaint handling procedures and establish an accessible system for learning from patients’ complaints.