Updated 3 November 2021
We carried out this announced inspection on 29 September 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 Care Quality Commission, (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 five key questions, however due to the ongoing pandemic and to reduce time spent on site, only the following three questions were asked:
• 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 this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services effective?
We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
T S Cheema Dental Surgery is in Greenford in the London borough of Ealing and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children. The provider also has an NHS General Dental Services (GDS) contract for orthodontics.
The practice has one treatment room and a separate decontamination room. There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities are available at the practice. The practice is located close to public transport services, and metered car parking spaces are available near the practice.
The dental team includes one dentist, one orthodontist, one trainee dental nurse and one receptionist.
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 the inspection we spoke with the dentist, trainee dental nurse, and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Thursday 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Friday 9.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
Saturday 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- There were systems in place to reduce the risks associated with the transmission of Covid-19.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
- 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.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider had information governance arrangements.
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 Faculty of General Dental Practice.
- Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice when completing dental care records.
- Improve the security of NHS prescription pads in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor NHS prescriptions and their use.
- Improve the practice protocols regarding auditing patient dental care records to check that necessary information is recorded.