Updated 20 November 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 26 September 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
Dentality @ Hoddesdon is in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire and provides 30% NHS and 70% private dental treatment to adults and children.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. There are two car parking spaces for blue badge holders, directly outside the practice. Other car parking spaces are available near the practice.
The dental team includes six dentists, one head dental nurse, one dental nurse, seven trainee dental nurses, one dental therapist, one foundation hygienist, two receptionists, a head receptionist and a practice manager. The practice has five treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.
On the day of inspection, we collected 94 CQC comment cards filled in by patients all wholly positive.
During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, two dental nurses, one receptionist 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 to Thursday from 9am to 7.30pm, Friday from 9am to 6pm and Saturday from 9am to 2pm. The practice closes between 1pm to 2pm Monday to Friday.
Our key findings were:
- Patients were positive about all aspects of the service the practice provided and spoke highly of the treatment they received, and of the staff who delivered it.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. We noted the practice was missing some essential medical emergency equipment such as clear face masks. Following the inspection, the practice sent confirmation that these had been replaced.
- Premises and equipment were clean and properly maintained and the practice followed national guidance for cleaning, sterilising and storing dental instruments.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- Patients’ care and treatment was provided in line with current guidelines.
- Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their personal information.
- The practice took complaints and concerns seriously and responded to them appropriately to improve the quality of care.
- Staff felt supported and valued and told us they enjoyed their work.
- The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted upon.