Updated 20 December 2019
We undertook a follow up focused inspection of Blanche Smile Studio on 6 November 2019. 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 accompanied by a specialist dental adviser.
We undertook a comprehensive inspection of Blanche Smile Studio on 1 July 2019 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 or well led care and was in breach of regulations 12 safe care and treatment, 17 good governance and regulation 19 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014 Fit and proper persons employed (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for Blanche Smile Studio 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.
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 breaches we found at our inspection on 1 July 2019.
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 breaches we found at our inspection on 1 July 2019.
Background
Blanche Smile Studio is in the City of Westminster in London and provides private treatment to adults and children.
Car parking spaces, including some for blue badge holders, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes a dentist and a dental nurse. The practice has one treatment room that incorporates a decontamination area.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers have legal responsibility for meeting requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run. The registered manager at Blanche Smile Studio is the principal dentist.
Our key findings were:
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Work outlined in the legionella risk assessment had been carried out.
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The practice had a system in place to receive safety alerts.
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There were appropriate medication and equipment to manage medical emergencies.
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The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) file had been reviewed and updated
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The practice had a health and safety risk assessment
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Disability access audit had been undertaken.
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Infection control audits were undertaken at six monthly intervals
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Radiographic audits had been undertaken
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A recruitment process was in place; however improvements were still required.
The practice had also made the following improvements:
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Improvements had been made in regard to recording information related to patient assessments, use of rubber dam and preventative advice given.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
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Improve the practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure accurate, complete and detailed records are maintained for all staff.