Archived: Chronos London Dental Clinic

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 11 November 2022 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 was visibly clean.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and staff took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• The dental clinic had information governance arrangements.
• The practice did not have infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff did not know how to deal with medical emergencies. The medical emergency drugs and equipment were not available as per current national guidance.
• There were ineffective processes in place to prevent abuse of vulnerable adults and children.
• Risks to staff and patients from undertaking of regulated activities had not been suitably identified and mitigated.
• The provider did not ensure that the premises and equipment used for providing care and treatment were safe.
• The provider did not have suitable staff recruitment procedures to comply with current legislation.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidance. Improvements were needed to ensure patient care was suitably recorded within the dental care records.
• There were ineffective systems to support continuous improvement.
• Staff and patients were not asked for feedback about the services provided.
• Staff generally worked as a team. However, improvements were needed to ensure that they were supported and involved in the delivery of care and treatment.
• There was ineffective leadership and a lack of oversight for the day-to-day management of the service.

Background

Chronos London Dental Clinic is in Kensal Rise, in the London Borough of Brent, and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The practice is located close to public transport links and car parking spaces are available nearby.

The dental team includes the principal dentist, 1 associate dentist, 1 qualified dental nurse, and 2 trainee dental nurses who also carry out receptionist duties. The practice has 2 treatment rooms and a separate decontamination room.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, the qualified dental nurse, and 1 of the trainee dental nurses. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9am to 5pm.

The practice is closed for lunch between 1pm and 2pm.

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.
• Ensure patients are protected from abuse and improper treatment.
• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
• Ensure recruitment procedures are established and operated effectively to ensure only fit and proper persons are employed.

Full details of the regulations the provider was not meeting are at the end of this report.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry.
• Implement an effective system for monitoring and recording the fridge temperature to ensure that medicines and dental care products are being stored in line with the manufacturer’s guidance.
• Improve the practice protocols regarding auditing patient dental care records to check that necessary information is recorded.
• Implement processes and systems for seeking and learning from patient feedback with a view to monitoring and improving the quality of the service.