Altmore Dental Practice

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations and had taken into consideration appropriate guidance.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Assessing needs is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The provider had systems to ensure that people who used the service received person-centred care and treatment, that was appropriate, met their needs and was reflective of their personal preferences. Preventive oral health care was encouraged.

Most staff kept up-to-date with current evidence-based practice, and had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles.

The practice offered conscious sedation for patients. The practice’s systems included checks before and after treatment, emergency equipment requirements, medicines management and sedation equipment checks.

The practice offered orthodontic treatment for patients. The specialist orthodontist carried out a patient assessment in line with recognised guidance from the British Orthodontic Society.

We looked at 16 patient care records. The information recorded in these patient care records was in line with recognised guidance. We saw evidence the dentists justified, graded and reported on the radiographs they took.

Staff obtained patients’ consent for treatment in line with legislation and guidance and understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Staff described how they involved patients’ relatives or carers when appropriate and made sure they had enough time to explain treatment options clearly.

We found that the practice's systems for prescribing and dispensing medicines were not always in line with current guidance. Improvements were required to ensure that prescribing practices remained consistent with recommended guidance and that any deviations were appropriately justified and clearly documented in the patient's records. The practice had carried out antimicrobial prescribing audits; however, these had not fully addressed the identified concerns.

Patients were referred to primary and secondary care specialists for treatment the practice did not provide. This included referring patients with suspected cancer under the national faster diagnosis pathways.

Staff felt the practice supported them to develop and enabled them to take on responsibilities.

“I can always achieve more.”

“I am supported with training and opportunities to take on responsibilities.”

“I am given opportunities to develop my skills and take on responsibilities appropriate to my level. This helps me building more confidence further.”

The judgement for How staff, teams and services work together is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Supporting people to live healthier lives is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Monitoring and improving outcomes is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Consent to care and treatment is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.