Coombe Dental Care

On this page

• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes
• Planning for the future

We found this practice was providing responsive 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 Person-centred Care is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Care provision, Integration and continuity is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Providing Information is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Listening to and involving people is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

A disability access audit had been completed, and we were assured that this would be reviewed on an annual basis.

Staff described the reasonable adjustments they had made to ensure the practice was accessible. We saw a comprehensive policy covering translation services that enabled staff to provide care and treatment in a way that met people’s communication needs. The practice also clearly displayed posters for patients signposting them to translation services.

The practice had step-free access and ground floor treatment rooms. A hearing induction loop was available to support patients with hearing impairment. Staff could also provide information to patients in large print or alternative formats of information, including braille and the use of electronic devices with text-enlarging facilities. The practice also provided giant pens, a magnifying glass and a card machine that had enlarged digits to support patients.

Staff were clear about the importance of providing emotional support to patients when delivering care. For example, they told us that they spent time talking to patients to provide reassurance. Additionally, staff gave us examples of how they provided extra opportunities for nervous patients to get to know staff in order to build confidence in having dental treatments.

The practice supported more vulnerable members of society, for example, patients living with dementia or adults and children with a learning disability.

The practice displayed its opening hours and provided information on their website and patient information folder.

The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

The practice staff had a dedicated out of hours emergency contact number for patients needing emergency dental treatment during the working day and when the practice was not open.

At the time of our inspection, patients who needed an urgent appointment were offered one in a timely manner.

The judgement for Equity in experiences and outcomes is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Planning for the future is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.