Updated 27 July 2017
We carried out this announced inspection on 11 July 2017 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.
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 form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.
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
318 Erith Road Dental Practice is in Barnehurst, in the London Borough of Bexley. It provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including those for patients with disabled badges are available in the surrounding roads. There is also limited parking available on the premises. There is Closed Circuit Television monitoring on the premises.
The dental team includes a practice manager (who is also a qualified dental nurse), two dentists, three dental nurses, a trainee dental nurse, two dental hygienists, a dental therapist, a receptionist (who is also a qualified dental nurse), and two cleaners. The practice has four 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.
On the day of inspection we received feedback from 39 patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses, the receptionist, a dental hygienist, and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday.
Our key findings were:
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
- The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
- 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.
- The appointment system met patients’ needs.
- The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The practice was clean and the premises were well maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.