Ascot Aesthetic Suite

We carried out this unannounced focused inspection on 4 March 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 clean and well-maintained.
• The provider’s infection control procedures were not operated effectively
• Appropriate life-saving equipment was not available.
• The provider did not operate effective systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider’s staff recruitment procedures were not operated effectively.
• The clinician provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The provider did not have a culture of continuous improvement.
• The provider’s information governance arrangements were not operated effectively.

Background

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes four dentists, one specialist dentist, one dental nurse who is also the practice manager and two trainee dental nurses. The practice has two treatment rooms of which one was in use.

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

The practice is open:

• Monday 9.00am to 5.30pm
• Tuesday 9.00am to 7.00pm
• Wednesday 9.00am to 5.30pm
• Thursday 9.00am to 5.30pm
• Friday 9.00am to 5.30pm

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

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
  
  
• Ensure persons employed in the provision of the regulated activity receive the appropriate training necessary to enable them to carry out the duties.
  
  
• Ensure recruitment procedures are established and operated effectively to ensure only fit and proper persons are employed and specified information is available regarding each person employed.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Implement protocols regarding the prescribing and recording of antibiotic medicines taking into account guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice in respect of antimicrobial prescribing.

• Implement a system to ensure patient referrals to other dental or health care professionals are centrally monitored to ensure they are received in a timely manner and not lost.
  
  

Where evidence is sent that shows the relevant issues have been acted on, we have stated this in our report but we cannot say that the practice is compliant for that key question as this would not be an accurate reflection of what was found on the day of our inspection.