Updated 20 March 2024
We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 27 February 2024 under section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions.
The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector who was supported by a specialist dental advisor.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, the following 3 questions were asked:
- Is it effective?
- Is it caring?
- Is it responsive to people’s needs?
These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.
Our findings were:
- The dental clinic appeared clean and well-maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The practice had some systems to manage risks for patients, staff, equipment and the premises.
- Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
- Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
- Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Staff took care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
- The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
- There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved, supported and worked as a team.
- Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
- Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
- The practice had information governance arrangements.
This inspection was also carried out to review the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.
We had previously undertaken a focused inspection of Oradent, High Street Rochester on 19 December 2023 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We found the registered provider was not providing well-led care and was in breach of regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for Oradent, High Street Rochester on our website www.cqc.org.uk.
When 1 or more of the 5 questions are not met we require the service to make improvements and send us an action plan (requirement notice only). We then inspect again after a reasonable interval, focusing on the area where improvement was required.
As part of this inspection we also asked:
- Is it well-led?
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on 19 December 2023.
Background
Oradent, High Street Rochester is part of Oradent, a dental group provider.
Oradent, Hight Street Rochester is in Rochester and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
There is step free access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, are available near the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with access requirements.
The dental team includes 3 dentists, 1 qualified dental nurse, 2 trainee dental nurses, 1 dental hygienist, 1 practice manager and 1 receptionist. The practice has 2 treatment rooms.
During the inspection we spoke with 1 dental nurse, 1 hygienist, the practice manager and the group’s operational director. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Tuesday from 8:30am to 5pm
Wednesday to Friday from 9am to 5pm
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
Improve the practice’s arrangements for ensuring good governance and leadership are sustained in the longer term.