Updated 15 December 2017
We carried out this announced inspection on 24 November 2017 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.
We told the NHS England area team and Healthwatch that we were inspecting the practice. They did not provide any information of concern.
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
Olney Dental Care is in Bradford and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.
The practice is not accessible for people who use wheelchairs. Car parking is available near the practice.
The dental team includes one dentist, one dental nurse and one receptionist (who is also the practice manager). The practice has two treatment rooms (only one is currently in use).
The practice is owned by a partnership 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 Olney Dental Care was the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection we collected 40 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with two other patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with the dentist, the dental nurse and the receptionist / practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Thursday from 9:00am to 5:30pm
Friday from 9:00am to 12:30pm
They also open one Saturday each month
Our key findings were:
- The practice was clean and well maintained.
- Improvements could be made to the process for ensuring equipment is serviced appropriately.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
- The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
- 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.
- The appointment system met patients’ needs.
- The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The practice asked patients for feedback about the services they provided.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:
- Review the practice’s process for ensuring equipment is maintained according to nationally recognised guidance.
- Review its responsibilities as regards to the Control of Substance Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and ensure all documentation is up to date.
- Review the practice’s audit protocols of various aspects of the service, such as radiography and infection prevention and control to help improve the quality of service. The practice should also check all audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.