Watton Place Dental Surgery

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 25 October 2021 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 Care Quality Commission, (CQC), inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

As part of this inspection we asked the following questions

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• 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 this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Watton Place Dental Surgery is in Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children. As well as providing general dentistry and implants, it holds an NHS Primary Dental Services contract to provide minor oral surgery to patients on referral.

The dental practice is on the first floor above a doctor’s surgery and access is via a staircase, so it is not suitable for people who use wheelchairs or those with pushchairs. Patients are advised of this when they first contact the practice and, if necessary, are signposted to a nearby dental practice in Stevenage which is fully accessible. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes three dentists, five dental nurses, one of whom also acts as a practice co-ordinator and deputises for the practice manager, two dental hygienists, one receptionist and a part-time practice manager. The practice has two 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.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses, 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 from 12.30pm to 5pm.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9am to 5pm.

Friday from 9am to 1pm.

Saturdays (one to two per month) from 9am to 1pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Take action to ensure audits of the prescribing of antibiotic medicines are undertaken at regular intervals to improve the quality of the service.

• Review the availability of equipment in the practice to manage medical emergencies taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council.’