Updated 7 August 2017
We carried out this announced inspection on 19 July 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
Indigo Dental is in Leeds and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.
The dental team includes four dentists, three dental nurses (one of whom is a trainee), two dental hygiene therapists and two receptionists. The practice has three treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by a company 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 Indigo Dental was the practice owner.
On the day of inspection we received feedback from five patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, two dental nurse and one dental hygiene therapist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am to 5pm
Tuesday from 10am to 7pm
Thursday from 9am to 6pm
Our key findings were:
- The practice was clean and well maintained.
- 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. We noted an unlocked room which could be accessible to patients contained products classified under the Control of Substance Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations.
- 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 staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:
- Review the practice’s arrangements for receiving and responding to patient safety alerts, recalls and rapid response reports issued from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
- Review its responsibilities and storage with regards to the Control of Substance Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and ensure all domestic cleaning products are included.
- Review the practice’s process for ensuring equipment is serviced in line with current guidance.