Updated 14 March 2024
We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 24 January 2024 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 practice 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 advisor.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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:
- The dental clinic appeared clean and well-maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
- Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
- Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Staff took care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
- The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
- Staff felt involved, supported and worked as a team.
- Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
- Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
- The practice had information governance arrangements.
- Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Most appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available. Items that were missing were immediately ordered.
- Improvements were required in relation to the details contained in patients’ care records.
- There was a culture of continuous improvement but improvements were required to some audits undertaken.
Background
Cantwell Healthcare - Wimpole Street is in the London Borough of Westminster and provides private dental care and treatment for adults.
There is ramped access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. There is one treatment room located on the ground floor. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes the principal dentist, 1 dental nurse and a practice manager. The practice has 1 treatment room.
During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist and the dental nurse. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from9.00am to 5.00pm
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry when completing dental care records.
- Take action to ensure the availability of medicines in the practice to manage medical emergencies taking into account the guidelines issued by the British National Formulary and the General Dental Council.
- Improve the practice’s arrangements for ensuring good governance and leadership are sustained in the longer term particularly in regard to ensuring policies are updated
- Take action to ensure audits of radiography and infection prevention and control are undertaken at regular intervals to improve the quality of the service. Practice should also ensure that, where appropriate, audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.
- Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry.