Background to this inspection
Updated
8 April 2016
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the practice was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
The inspection took place on 11 March 2016 and was conducted by a CQC inspector and a specialist dental advisor.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:
These questions therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.
Prior to the inspection we asked the practice to send us some information which we reviewed. This included the complaints they had received in the last 12 months, their latest statement of purpose, the details of their staff members, their qualifications, and proof of registration with their professional bodies.
We also reviewed the information we held about the practice and found there were no areas of concern.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, a hygienist, a dental nurse, a practice manager, and a receptionist. We reviewed policies, procedures and other documents. We reviewed 22 comment cards that we had left prior to the inspection, for patients to complete, about the services provided at the practice.
Updated
8 April 2016
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 11 March 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?
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
Gordon Shaw Dental Practice provides private dental treatment to adults and NHS treatment to patients aged under 18 (up to the age of 19 years for students in full time education). The principal dentist employs two associate dentists, three hygienists, a practice manager, four dental nurses, a trainee dental nurse, and a receptionist.
The practice is located is the village of Pampisford and operates from a one storey building. There is car parking available at the front of the building. There are three treatment rooms, a decontamination room for cleaning, sterilising, and packing dental instruments, a reception and waiting area, and a staff room. There is a secure garage providing additional storage space.
The practice is open Monday from 8am to 6.15pm and Tuesday to Friday from 8am to 5.00pm. Appointments are available on Saturday from 9am to 12pm.
The principal dentist is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.
We received feedback from 22 patients. Feedback reflected positive comments about the staff and the services provided. Patients commented that the practice was clean and tidy; they found the staff very friendly and efficient, and felt the quality of the dentistry to be excellent.
The practice was providing care which was safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Our key findings were:
- Staff knew the processes to follow in order to raise any concerns regarding safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
- Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were readily available and accessible.
- Infection control procedures were in place and staff had access to personal protective equipment. However, the practice needed to review the policy for dealing with needle stick injuries to ensure staff were kept safe.
- Patients’ care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines and current legislation.
- Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment and its costs, benefits, and risks and were involved in making decisions about them.
- Patients were treated with dignity and respect and their confidentiality was maintained.
- The appointment system met the needs of patients and waiting times were kept to a minimum.
- The practice staff felt involved in the running of the practice and worked as a team.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:
- Review the practice’s sharps procedures giving due regard to the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.
Review the current legionella risk assessment and implement the required actions including the monitoring and recording of water temperatures, giving due regard to the guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05.