The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Aspire Dental

44 Clarence Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1LQ (01246) 232595

Provided and run by:
Mr. Giles Saxon

All Inspections

14/07/2020

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We undertook a follow up desk-based inspection of Aspire Dental on 14 July 2020. 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 supported by remotely a specialist dental adviser.

We undertook a comprehensive inspection of Aspire Dental on 7 October 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 well led care and was in breach of regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for Aspire Dental on our website .

As part of this inspection we asked:

•Is it well-led?

When one or more of the five questions are not met, we require the service to make improvements and send us an action plan. We then inspect again after a reasonable interval, focusing on the area where improvement was required.

This desk-based inspection was undertaken during the Covid 19 pandemic. Due to the demands and constraints in place because of Covid 19 we reviewed the action plan and asked the provider to confirm compliance after a reasonable interval, focusing on the area where improvement was required.

Our findings were:

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 breach we found at our inspection on 7 October 2019.

Background

Aspire Dental Practice is in Chesterfield, a short walk from the town centre and provides private dental treatment to adults and children.

The dental team includes one dentist, three part-time dental hygienists, two dental nurses who also have reception duties, one clinical dental technician and a practice manager. The practice has two treatment rooms and an instrument decontamination room. One of the treatment rooms is located on the ground floor. There is stepped access into the practice which would make it difficult for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. The practice does not have a ramp to overcome the steps. There are pay and display car parks close by for the use of patients.

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.

The practice is open:

Monday and Tuesday: 9am to 6pm

Wednesday: 8.30am to 2pm

Thursday: 8.30am to 6pm

Friday: 9am to 6pm

Our key findings were :

  • Staff files now held all of the information required by Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Regulations.
  • Staff had received training in fire safety and regular fire drills were now held at the practice.
  • Local rules relating to the X-ray equipment had been re-written and were now surgery specific.
  • The infection control policy and procedure had been re-written and manual cleaning of dental instruments had been removed from the process. The practice had an ultrasonic cleaner as a back-up.
  • A new Legionella risk assessment had been completed on 11 March 2020, and the actions from this risk assessment were being actioned following the resumption of dental activity after the Covid-19 lockdown.
  • A template had been introduced for dental care records to ensure that all information was recorded.
  • A referral log and tracking system had been introduced.

7 October 2019

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced inspection on 7 October 2019 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 always ask the following five 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:

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 not providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Aspire Dental Practice is in Chesterfield, a short walk from the town centre and provides private dental treatment to adults and children.

The dental team includes one dentist, three part-time dental hygienists, two dental nurses who also have reception duties, one clinical dental technician and a practice manager. The practice has two treatment rooms and an instrument decontamination room. One of the treatment rooms is located on the ground floor. There is stepped access into the practice which would make it difficult for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. The practice does not have a ramp to overcome the steps. There are pay and display car parks close by for the use of patients.

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.

On the day of inspection, we collected 15 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. All comments were highly positive about the practice staff and care and treatment they provided.

During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, two dental nurses, one dental hygienist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday and Tuesday: 9am to 6pm

Wednesday: 8.30am to 2pm

Thursday: 8.30am to 6pm

Friday: 9am to 6pm

Our key findings were:

  • The practice appeared clean and well maintained although improvements to the dentist’s stool were required in the upstairs treatment room.
  • Improvements were needed in relation to infection control procedures to ensure they reflected published guidance.
  • Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
  • The provider’s systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff was in need of review and improvement.
  • Improvements could be made with regard to fire safety at the practice.
  • Action should be taken to address outstanding recommendations from the Legionella risk assessment.
  • The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
  • The provider’s staff recruitment procedures did not fully reflect the relevant legistation.
  • The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
  • Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
  • Improvements could be made to dental care records to ensure staff provided preventive care and supporting patients to maintain better oral health.
  • The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
  • There was room for improvement in respect of the leadership and developing a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
  • The provider asked patients for feedback about the services they provided.
  • The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
  • The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.


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

  • Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care

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

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

  • Improve and develop the practice's policies and procedures for obtaining patient consent to care and treatment to ensure they are in compliance with legislation and take into account relevant guidance.

  • Review the practice protocols regarding audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.

29 November 2011

During a routine inspection

People we spoke to said that they received care which met their needs and felt staff communicated with them well. They also said that they felt the practice was clean and that staff used personal protective equipment to ensure hygienic practice.