Updated 2 June 2017
We carried out this announced inspection on 25 May 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 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
Walthamstow Dental Centre is in Walthamstow High Street in the London Borough of Waltham Forest and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.
The dental practice is located on the ground and first floor of an adapted residential property and there is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Pay and Display car parking spaces are available nearby.
The dental team includes the principal dentist and three associate dentists, six dental nurses, two hygienists, a trainee practice manager and two receptionists. The practice has five treatment rooms, three of which are located on the ground floor.
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 collected 18 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with three other patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, two dental nurses, two receptionists and the trainee practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open between 8am and 5pm on Mondays to Fridays (excluding Bank Holidays) and between 9am and 1pm on Saturdays by pre-arranged appointment.
Our key findings were:
- The practice was clean and well maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance and these were regularly audited to ensure their effectiveness.
- Staff were trained in basic life support and 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 which were followed when employing new staff.
- 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 including patients who required emergency dental treatment.
- 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 had systems to deal with complaints positively and efficiently.