13 December 2018
During an inspection looking at part of the service
We undertook a focused inspection of Skinnergate Dental Practice on 13 December 2018. This inspection was carried out to review in detail the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.
The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
We undertook a comprehensive inspection of Skinnergate Dental Practice on 27 July 2018 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We found the registered provider was not providing safe and well led care and was in breach of regulation 12 and 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for Skinnergate dental practice on our website www.cqc.org.uk.
As part of this inspection we asked:
• Is it safe?
• Is it well-led?
When one or more of the five questions are not met we require the service to make improvements and send us an action plan. We then inspect again after a reasonable interval, focusing on the areas where improvement was required.
Our findings were:
Are services safe?
We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on 27 July 2018.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on August 2018.
Background
Skinnergate Dental Practice is in Darlington town centre and provides NHS treatment to adults and children.
There is step free access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs and a ground floor surgery. The toilet is on the first floor; patients with mobility difficulties are made aware of this before accepting treatment at the practice. Public parking and transport links are available near the practice.
The dental team includes two dentists, four dental nurses, two dental hygienists, and a practice manager. The dental practice has three 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.
The practice is open:
Monday to Thursday 9am-6pmFriday 9am to 4:30pm
Our key findings were:
- Overall governance systems had improved, policies and procedures had been reviewed, amended and the appropriate risk assessments put into place.
- Appropriate systems for cleaning, sterilising and storing of dental instruments were now in place.
- Infection control had improved including adherence to safe hand washing guidance.
- Systems were in place to assure the effectiveness of sterilisation equipment.
- Recruitment procedures and processes had improved.
- The medical emergency drugs and equipment reflected nationally recognised guidance and a robust checking system was now in place.
- Staff training was in place for medical emergencies, safeguarding and a comprehensive staff induction was in place for all new staff.