Priory Dental Centre

On this page

• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes
• Planning for the future

We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations and had taken into consideration appropriate guidance.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Person-centred Care is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Care provision, Integration and continuity is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Providing Information is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Listening to and involving people is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

Staff had carried out a disability access audit and had an action plan to continually improve access for patients. We were told that some issues on the disability access audit were in the process of being addressed, such as the purchase of a hearing induction loop to support patients with a hearing difficulty and the installation of an emergency pull cord in the disabled access toilet.

Staff described the reasonable adjustments they had made to ensure the practice was accessible. The practice had access to large print and alternative formats of information. An electronic tablet for completion of medical history or consent forms was available to support patients with impaired vision as information on the electronic tablets could be enlarged if required. The practice was wheelchair accessible with step-free access, ground floor treatment rooms and an accessible toilet. Staff had access to language translation services, including British Sign Language and information was available in other languages as required. Some staff at the practice were multilingual and could communicate with patients in languages such as Romanian, Punjabi, Urdu and Spanish.

Staff were clear about the importance of providing emotional support to patients when delivering care. For example, staff said that they chatted to patients to try and make them feel relaxed and try and reassure them. Staff would inform the dentist if the person was anxious and a note would be put on their records, so the dentist was aware for future visits to the practice.

The practice supported more vulnerable members of society, for example, patients living with dementia or adults and children with a learning disability. We were told that appointments were adjusted to meet the needs of the patients, for example at quieter times of the day or they were offered either longer or more frequent shorter appointments. As much information was obtained from the patient as possible regarding any communication needs or assistance required. Staff had completed training regarding learning disabilities and autism awareness.

The practice displayed its opening hours and provided information on their website, patient information leaflet and social media page. The practice provided extended opening hours each Thursday until 7pm and opened at 8.30am for patients requesting earlier morning appointments.

The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

The practice provided telephone numbers for patients needing emergency dental treatment during the working day and when the practice was not open.

At the time of our inspection, patients who needed an urgent appointment were offered one in a timely manner. When the practice was unable to offer an urgent appointment, they worked with partner organisations to support urgent access for patients.

The judgement for Equity in experiences and outcomes is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Planning for the future is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.