Updated 25 April 2023
We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 6 April 2023 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 advisor.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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 dental clinic appeared clean and well-maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Not all appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available. The provider ordered these following our inspection.
- Systems to manage risks for patients, staff, equipment and the premises were in place. We found minor shortfalls in appropriately assessing and mitigating risks in relation to the control of substances hazardous to health, medical emergency equipment and prescription monitoring. Immediate action was taken within 48 hours of our inspection to address most of these shortfalls.
- Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- Not all required recruitment checks had been carried out, in accordance with relevant legislation to help employ suitable staff.
- Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
- Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Staff took care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
- The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
- The practice’s arrangements for ensuring good governance and leadership needed embedding. The provider needed to sustain these improvements in the longer term.
- Staff felt involved, supported and worked as a team.
- Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
- Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
- The practice had information governance arrangements.
Background
D & P Brindley Place Dental Practice is in Walsall and provides NHS dental care and treatment for adults and children.
Due to the layout of the building, the practice is not fully accessible for wheelchair users, patients with mobility limitations and patients with pushchairs. The practice can only be accessed by steps. The provider referred these patients to a fully accessible clinic in the area.
The dental team includes 2 dentists, 4 dental nurses (including 1 trainee), 1 practice manager, 1 support member of staff and 1 receptionist. The practice has 2 treatment rooms.
During the inspection we spoke with 1 dentist, 2 dental nurses and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Take action to ensure the availability of medicines in the practice to manage medical emergencies taking into account the guidelines issued by the British National Formulary and the General Dental Council.
- Improve the security of NHS prescription pads in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor their use.
- Improve the practice's processes for the control and storage of substances hazardous to health identified by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, to ensure risk assessments are undertaken and the products are stored securely.
- Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry.