Archived: Copperhouse Dental Surgery

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 16 March 2016 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

Copperhouse Dental Surgery is located in the coastal town of Hayle in Cornwall. The practice has level access and is situated entirely on the ground floor of a building on a main road. There are two treatment rooms, a decontamination room and a reception and waiting area.

The practice provides NHS dental services to approximately 4,000 adults and children. The practice offers a range of dental services including routine examinations and treatment, veneers crowns and bridges.

The staff structure of the practice consists of two principal dentists, two dental nurses, and a team of receptionists.

The practice opening hours are Monday from 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. Outside of these hours a service is available via the 111 out of hour’s service. These details are displayed at the entrance to the practice, and are visible from the outside the practice when the practice is closed.

The principal dentists are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as individuals. 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.

The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector with telephone access to a dental specialist advisor.

Twenty eight patients provided feedback about the service. Patients were positive about the care they received from the practice. They were complimentary about the friendly, professional and caring attitude of the dental staff.

Our key findings were:

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

• There were effective systems in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.
• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children living in vulnerable circumstances.
• Staff knew how to report incidents and how to record details of these so that the practice could use this information for shared learning.
• Equipment, such as the air compressor, autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.

• Patients indicated that they felt they were listened to and that they received good care from a helpful and caring practice team.
• The practice ensured staff maintained the necessary skills and competence to support the needs of patients.
• The practice had implemented clear procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.
• The provider had a clear vision for the practice and staff told us they were well supported by the management team.
• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice.