Archived: Bluedental

Updated 10 March 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.

The inspection took place on the 13 January 2016 and was undertaken by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist adviser. Prior to the inspection we reviewed information submitted by the provider and information available on the provider’s website.

The methods used to carry out this inspection included speaking with the dentist, a trainee dental nurse, receptionist and the practice manager on the day of the inspection, reviewing documents, completed patient feedback forms and observations. We received feedback from 35 patients via completed Care Quality Commission comment cards.

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 10 March 2016

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 13 January 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

Bluedental is located in the London Borough of Croydon and provides predominantly NHS dental services. The demographics of the practice were mixed, serving patients from a range of social and ethnic backgrounds.

The practice staffing consists of one dentist, one trainee dental nurse, a dental hygienist, practice manager (who is also a qualified dental professional) and a receptionist.

The practice is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm on Monday to Fridays. The practice is set on the ground floor and facilities include two consultation rooms, a reception and waiting area, decontamination room and staff room/administration office. The premises were wheelchair accessible however there were toilet facilities were not wheelchair accessible.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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.

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

We received 35 completed Care Quality Commission comment cards. All the feedback we received from patients was very positive. Patients feedback indicated that staff were professional, caring and gave good explanations. They described the premises as being clean and tidy.

Our key findings were:

• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was well maintained.
• The provider had emergency medicines and equipment in line with current guidelines for management of medical emergencies in dental practice.
• Dental instruments were decontaminated suitably.
• Appropriate pre-employment checks were carried out before staff commenced work in the practice.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care and treatment was delivered in line with published guidance, such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
• All clinical staff were up to date with their continuing professional development (CPD).
• Appropriate systems were in place to safeguard patients from abuse.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance.
• Patients were involved in their care and treatment planning so they could make informed decisions.
• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice; the practice had a structured plan in place to audit quality and safety which included the mandatory audits for infection control and radiography.