Archived: Elm House Dental Surgery

Updated 7 September 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the practice was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection on 14 July 2016. The inspection took place over one day. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector. They were accompanied by a dental specialist advisor.

During our inspection visit, we reviewed policy documents. We spoke with two members of staff, including the practice manager. We conducted a tour of the practice and looked at the storage arrangements for emergency medicines and equipment. We observed the dental nurse carrying out decontamination of dental instruments.

We received feedback from 28 patients. Patients were positive about the care they received from the practice. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the dental staff.

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 therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 7 September 2016

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 14 July 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.

Elm House Dental Surgery is located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The practice is on the ground, first and second floor and comprises of four surgeries and a decontamination room. There was also a reception and waiting area. Toilet facilities for patients were also available on the ground and first floor.

The practice provides NHS dental services and treats adults and children.

The staff structure of the practice comprises of a principal dentist, two associate dentists, two hygienists, five dental nurses and two receptionists. The practice was open Monday from 9am-1pm and 2pm-7pm, Tuesday to Thursday from 9am-1pm and 2pm-5.30pm and Friday from 8.30am to 3.30pm.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual registered person. 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 and a dental specialist advisor.

We received feedback from 28 patients. The feedback from the patients was positive in relation to the care they received from the practice. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the staff.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had a system for managing adverse incidents and accidents
• The practice had policies and procedures in place for child protection and safeguarding adults.
• There were arrangements in place to deal with foreseeable emergencies
• There was a complaints procedure available for patients.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned.
• Patients indicated that they felt they were listened to and that they received good care from the practice staff.
• There was a system for testing and servicing equipment.
• There was a system in place for obtaining feedback from patients.

There were areas where the practice could make improvements and should:

• Review the system for sharing alerts from relevant external organisations such as Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
• Review the practice's protocols for monitoring and recording the fridge temperature to ensure that medicines and dental care products are being stored in line with the manufacturer’s guidance.
• Review stocks of medicines and equipment and the system for identifying, disposing and replenishing of out-of-date stock.