Chellaston dental practice

We carried out this announced inspection on 25 June 2019 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.

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

Chellaston Dental Practice lies to the south of the city of Derby. The practice provides private dental treatment to adults and children.

There is stepped access through the front door with two grab rails for assistance. There is a removable ramp to overcome the steps. The practice has two treatment rooms, one of which is located on the ground floor.

The dental team includes four dentists, six dental nurses, including two apprentice dental nurses and the practice manager.

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 Chellaston Dental Practice is the principal dentist.

On the day of inspection, we collected 20 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists and four dental nurses including the practice manager. We also spoke with the practice administrator. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday: from 8.30am to 6.30pm, Tuesday: from 8.30am to 6.30pm, Wednesday: from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Thursday: from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Friday: from 8.30am to 2pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.

• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available. The practice did not have a paediatric bag valve mask as part of their emergency kit.
• Not every hazardous substance in the practice had been risk assessed.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.

• In the period up to this inspection the practice had not been completing infection prevention and control audits on a six-monthly basis as recommended by national guidance.

• The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.

• The provider had the staff recruitment procedures and information required by the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) 2014 regulations.
• 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.
• Staff were providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had suitable information governance arrangements

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

• Review the practice's policy for the control and storage of substances hazardous to health identified by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, to ensure risk assessments are undertaken.

• Review the availability of equipment in the practice to manage medical emergencies taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council.

• Review the practice’s protocols to ensure audits of infection prevention and control are undertaken at regular intervals to improve the quality of the service. The practice should also ensure that, where appropriate, audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.

• Review staff awareness of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and ensure all staff are aware of their responsibilities under the Act as it relates to their role.