Archived: Plum Dental and Facial Clinic

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 23 August 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 usually ask five key questions, however due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to reduce time spent on site, only the following three questions were asked:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• 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 tidy.
• The provider had infection control procedures which did not wholly reflect published.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Some appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available. However, some items were missing or beyond their use by date.
• Governance in the issuing of medicines and the provision of information to patients required greater oversight and management.
• Fire detection systems were in place, but these were not serviced, monitored or checked regularly. The fire risk assessment was inadequate for the premises.
• Staff awareness of sepsis and the logging of prescriptions could be improved.
• Systems to help the practice manage risk to patients and staff needed to be review and improved.
• Systems to monitor and dispose of out of date stock were ineffective.
• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The practice did not have effective staff recruitment procedures in place in line with current legislation.
• 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.
• 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

Plum Dental and Facial Clinic is in Keighley and provides dental care and treatment 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 at near the practice.

The dental team includes two dentists, three dental nurses (two of whom are trainees) and a practice manager. The practice has three treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist and dental nursing staff. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

Monday 9am to 6:30pm

Tuesday and Wednesday 9am to 5:30pm

Thursday 9am to 5pm

Friday 9am to 12:30pm

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.