Updated 24 September 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 29 August 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
Victoria Place Dental Practice is in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire and provides private treatment to adults and children.
The practice is on the first floor of a building located in the town centre. There is no level access into the building for people who use wheelchairs or those with pushchairs. There are handrails available to use on the step in to the building, and a stairlift available to take patients up to the practice if required. Car parking is available directly outside the practice and in the surrounding streets.
The dental team includes two dentists, two dental nurses and one dental hygienist. The clinical team are supported by two practice managers and a receptionist. Two new dentists have been recruited and are due to commence work at the practice. The practice has three treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by an organisation 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 Victoria Place Dental Practice is the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection, we collected 19 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. We also spoke to one patient.
During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, two dental nurses, including a locum dental nurse and one receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday from 8am to 7pm, Tuesdays to Thursdays 8am to 5.30pm, Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday from 9am to 12.30pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had thorough staff recruitment procedures. However, there was no formal induction process for new members of staff.
- 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 provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- The provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement. There was scope to improve the oversight of audits undertaken in the practice.
- 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 had suitable information governance arrangements.