DS Dental Surgery

We carried out this announced inspection on 1 December 2021 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 asked the following questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• 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 well-led?

We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Green Tree Dental Clinic is a well-established practice that provides mostly NHS treatment to adults and children. The dental team includes three dentists and five dental nurses. The practice has four treatment rooms. Wheelchair access is available via a ramp, and there is an accessible toilet and ground floor treatment rooms. The practice has parking facilities in front of the premises.

The practice opens Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 5pm.

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.

During our inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, an associate dentist and two nurses. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The practice had thorough staff recruitment and induction procedures.
• Patients’ care and treatment was provided in line with current guidelines.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• Patients received their care and treatment from well supported staff, who enjoyed their work.

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 that privately paying patients receive a detailed plan outlining their care and treatment.