Updated 28 March 2024
We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 15 February 2024 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 second CQC inspector and 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 appeared clean and well-maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The practice did not have effective systems to identify and manage risks for patients, staff, equipment and the premises. Improvements should be made regarding fire safety.
- Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation, but they were not always followed.
- Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines. Systems to ensure staff undertake appropriate training should be implemented.
- Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Staff took care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
- The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
- Staff felt involved, supported and worked as a team.
- Patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
- Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
- The practice had information governance arrangements. However, improvements could be made regarding staff training and the maintenance of x-ray equipment.
Background
Regent Dental Centre is in Altrincham and provides NHS care and treatment to children and private dental care and treatment for adults.
There is no step free access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes 1 dentist, 2 dental hygienists, 1 qualified dental nurse, 2 trainee dental nurses and a receptionist. The practice has 3 treatment rooms.
During the inspection we spoke with 1 dentist, 1 dental hygienist, 1 qualified dental nurse, 1 trainee dental nurses and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday and Friday from 9am to 5pm
Tuesday from 9am to 7pm
Wednesday and Thursday from 8.30am to 5pm
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:
- Take action to implement any recommendations in the practice's fire safety risk assessment and ensure ongoing fire safety management is effective.
- Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry.
- Take action to ensure audits of record keeping are undertaken at regular intervals to improve the quality of the service. The practice should also ensure that, where appropriate, audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.