Archived: The Grove House Dental Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 27 January 2017 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

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 Grove House Dental Practice offers a full range of dental treatments preventative, corrective and cosmetic. The practice is based in the centre of Ilkley which is close to the main shops. The staff consists of a dentist, dental hygienist, dental nurse and receptionist.

The practice is in the centre of Ilkley based in a converted building on the 1st floor. There is one treatment room, a decontamination room, office/ staff area, a waiting and reception room. Public parking is available near the practice. The opening hours are Monday 9am-5:30pm Tuesday 9am-4pm Wednesday, Thursday 8:30am-5:30pm and Friday 8:30am-1pm.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

We left comment cards at the practice but unfortunately non were completed. We did review the practice’s own survey and these confirmed that overall patients’ were happy with the service. In January 2017 the patient’s scores overall were 86% extremely satisfied.

Our key findings were:

• The premises were visibly clean and tidy.
• The practice had procedures in place to record and analyse significant events and incidents.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, and knew the process to follow to raise concerns.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, skilled staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies, and emergency medicines and equipment were available.
• Patients’ needs were assessed, and care and treatment was delivered, in accordance with current legislation, standards, and guidance.
• Patients received information about their care, proposed treatment, costs, benefits, and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Staff were supported to deliver effective care, and opportunities for training and learning were available.
• Patients were treated with kindness, dignity, and respect.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients, and emergency appointments were available.
• Services were planned and delivered to meet the needs of patients, and reasonable adjustments were made to enable patients to receive their care and treatment.
• The practice gathered the views of patients and took their views into account.
• Staff were supervised, felt involved, and worked as a team.
• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice, and for the delivery of high quality person centred care.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review the practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure character references for new staff are requested and recorded suitably.
• Review the equipment in the emergency kit and ensure they are in date and safe for use.
• Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.