Updated 12 February 2020
We carried out this announced inspection on 21 January 2020 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
The Centre for Dentistry Welwyn Garden City provides private dental care only. It is located inside a large Sainsbury’s supermarket and is one of 17 practices nationally. There are two treatment rooms and the dental team includes five dentists, three dental nurses, two hygienists, a receptionist and a practice manager.
There is access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Free car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, is available in the Sainsbury’s car park.
The practice is open Mondays to Thursdays from 8am to 8pm and on Fridays and Saturdays from 8am to 6pm.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC as the registered manager. Registered managers 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 registered manager is the practice manager.
On the day of inspection, we reviewed patient feedback from a range of sources. We spoke with the practice manager, the provider’s clinical services manager, two dentists, a nurse, and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
Our key findings were:
- The practice had effective systems to help ensure patient safety. These included systems for safeguarding children and adults from abuse, maintaining the required standards of infection prevention and control, and responding to medical emergencies.
- Opening hours were extensive. The practice provided appointments until 8 pm four days a week and opened on Saturday from 8am to 6pm. It opened on all public holidays apart from Christmas day.
- Patients received their care and treatment rom staff who were well supported and enjoyed their work.
- Staff recruitment procedures were robust and ensured only suitable people were employed.
- Patients’ needs were assessed, and care was planned and delivered in line with current best practice guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and other published guidance.
- Members of the dental team were up-to-date with their continuing professional development and were supported to meet the requirements of their professional registration.
- The practice had strong, effective leadership and a culture of continuous audit and improvement.
- The practice encouraged and valued feedback from patients.