Prestbury Dental Practice Limited

Updated 6 April 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

The inspection took place on 7 March 2017 and was led by a CQC Inspector with remote access to a dental specialist adviser.

Prior to the inspection we asked the practice to send us some information which we reviewed. This included details of complaints they had received in the last 12 months, their latest statement of purpose, and staff details, including their qualifications and professional body registration number where appropriate. We also reviewed information we held about the practice.

We informed the NHS England Cheshire and Merseyside area team that we were inspecting the practice; however we did not receive any information of concern from them.

During the inspection we spoke to the dentists, practice manager, dental nurses and receptionists. We reviewed policies, protocols and other documents and observed procedures. We also reviewed CQC comment cards which we had sent prior to the inspection for patients to complete about the services provided at the practice.

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 therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 6 April 2017

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

Prestbury Dental Practice is located in a residential suburb close to the centre of Prestbury. It comprises a reception and waiting room, two treatment rooms and patient toilet facilities. The practice is located on the first floor of the premises, accessed by an internal flight of stairs. Parking is available near the practice. The practice is accessible to patients with disabilities, limited mobility, but not to wheelchair users.

The practice provides general dental treatment to patients of all ages on an NHS or privately funded basis. The opening times are Monday to Thursday 8.15am to 5.00pm, (closed for lunch between 1.00pm and 2.00pm), and Friday 8.15am to 3.30pm, (closed for lunch between 12.30pm and 1.00pm).9.00am to 5.00pm. The practice is staffed by two principal dentists, a dental therapist, two dental hygienists, and five dental nurses, one of whom is a trainee and one of whom is the practice manager.

The practice manager is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

We received feedback from 88 people during the inspection about the services provided. Patients commented that they found the practice excellent and that staff were professional, friendly, and caring. They said the dentists listened to them and they were always given good and helpful explanations about dental treatment. They highlighted that advice given was excellent. Patients commented that the practice was clean and comfortable and that they were always seen promptly in an emergency.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had procedures in place to record, analyse and learn from significant events and incidents.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, and knew the processes to follow to raise concerns.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and skilled staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies, and emergency medicines and equipment were available.
• The premises were clean, secure and well maintained.
• Staff followed current infection control guidelines for decontaminating and sterilising instruments.
• Patients’ needs were assessed, and care and treatment were delivered, in accordance with current standards and guidance.
• Patients received information about their care, proposed treatment, costs, benefits, and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Staff were supported to deliver effective care, and opportunities for training and learning were available.
• Patients were treated with kindness, dignity, and respect, and their confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients, and emergency appointments were available.
• The practice gathered the views of patients and took their views into account.
• Staff were supervised, felt involved, and worked as a team.
• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review the protocol for maintaining accurate, complete and detailed records relating to the employment of staff. This includes ensuring recruitment checks on qualifications, are carried out and recorded.
• Review the storage of paper dental care records to ensure they are stored securely.