Berkshire Dental Clinic

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

We found this practice was providing safe care in line 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 Learning culture is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Safe systems, pathways and transitions is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Safeguarding is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Involving people to manage risks is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The practice had processes to identify and manage risks, but improvement was needed.

Staff knew how to respond to a medical emergency and had completed training in emergency resuscitation and basic life support every year. Staff also participated in medical emergency scenario training.

Checks of emergency equipment and medicines did not follow national guidance to ensure availability and suitability for use. We have since received evidence to confirm this shortfall has been addressed.

The premises were visibly clean, well maintained and free from clutter.

The practice had not implemented actions resulting from risk assessments in relation to the safe storage and handling of every substance hazardous to health that was in use by staff.

Improvement could be made to ensure the control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) safety data sheets were stored in an ordered method to enable staff to access information in a timely way.

We saw satisfactory records of servicing and validation of equipment in line with manufacturer’s instructions.

The practice had arrangements to ensure the safety of the X-ray equipment and the required radiation protection information was available.

Improvement was needed to ensure that fire safety management procedures were effective.

Checks of emergency equipment and medicines did not follow national guidance to ensure availability and suitability for use. We have since received evidence to confirm this shortfall has been addressed.

The practice did not have an adequate stock control system of prescriptions.

Whilst these issues were present, our concerns related to lack of governance and risk oversight, rather than immediate patient and staff safety.

The practice had a recruitment policy and procedures that reflected relevant legislation, to help them employ suitable staff.

The practice ensured clinical staff were qualified, registered with the General Dental Council and had appropriate professional indemnity cover.

Newly appointed staff had an appropriate role specific structured induction.

The practice should take action to ensure that all clinical staff have adequate immunity for vaccine preventable infectious diseases.

Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles.

They demonstrated knowledge of safeguarding and were aware of how safeguarding information could be accessed. Staff knew how to escalate safeguarding concerns within the practice and externally.

The practice ensured staff training, including continuing professional development, was up-to-date and reviewed at the required intervals.
 

We were told that self-employed staff did not received appraisals.

The practice had infection control procedures that reflected published guidance, but improvement was needed to ensure processes were followed.

Staff received appropriate training and demonstrated knowledge and awareness of infection prevention and control processes.

Staff used personal protective equipment and decontaminated dental instruments after use, in line with national guidance.

The practice had protocols to ensure effective cleaning and safe segregation and disposal of hazardous waste.

The practice could not demonstrate that effective procedures to reduce the risk of Legionella, or other bacteria, developing in water systems, in line with a risk assessment and current guidance were in place.

The resulting actions required from the Legionella risk assessment remained outstanding at the time of our visit.

Equipment was maintained and serviced in line with manufacturers’ instructions.

The practice completed infection prevention and control audits in line with current guidance.

The judgement for Medicines optimisation is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.