Archived: Reigate Gentle Dental

Updated 3 August 2016

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 practice was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection on 12 April 2016. The inspection was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist advisor. Prior to the inspection we reviewed information submitted by the provider.

During our inspection visit, we reviewed policy documents and staff records. We spoke with six members of staff. We conducted a tour of the practice and looked at the storage arrangements for emergency medicines and equipment. We reviewed the practice’s decontamination procedures of dental instruments and also observed staff interacting with patients in the waiting area.

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 3 August 2016

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 12 April 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

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

Reigate Gentle Dental is a dental practice located alongside retail shops and businesses on Western Parade in Reigate, Surrey. There are free parking bays located along the parade for staff and patients to use. The practice comprises of five treatment rooms, a spacious waiting area, a reception area and office/staff room, decontamination room and toilet facilities with disabled access.

The practice is fairly new and started providing services from January 2015. They provide private services to adults and children and offer a range of dental services including dental hygienists, routine examinations and treatment, veneers and crowns and bridges. One of the dentists also provides implants.

The practice staffing consisted of a principal dentist (who was also the provider), two general dentists (one also provided implants), seven dental nurses (including four trainees), a receptionist and a practice manager. The dental team worked various part-time hours to accommodate flexible working depending on the need.

The practice opening hours are Monday 8am to 5pm, Tuesday 8am to 8.30pm,Wednesday 8am to 5pm, Thursday 8am to 8.30pm, Friday 8am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm.

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.

Before the inspection we sent Care Quality Commission (CQC) comments cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice. We collected 43 completed cards. All the comments received were positive about the care that patients received from the practice. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the dental staff .

The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist advisor

Our key findings were:

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

• The practice had an ongoing programme of risk assessments and audits which were used to drive improvement.
• Patients were involved in their care and treatment planning so they could make informed decisions.
• There were effective processes in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.
• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and child protection
• Equipment, such as the air compressor, autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.

• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• The practice had implemented clear procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.
• Patients indicated that they found the team to be efficient, professional, caring and reassuring.
• All clinical staff were up to date with their continuing professional development.
• There was a comprehensive induction and training programme for staff to follow which ensured they were skilled and competent in delivering safe and effective care and support to patients.

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

• Review national guidelines for the use of safer sharps and implement protocols and risk assessments in line with guidance.