The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Archived: Elm House Dental Surgery

288 Forest Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 5JN (020) 8520 7117

Provided and run by:
Mr. Vincent Malachy Barnes

All Inspections

14 July 2016

During a routine inspection

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.

24 October 2013

During an inspection looking at part of the service

On the day of the inspection we did not speak to anyone who used the service.

Staff told us about the changes made to improve record keeping in the practice. The dental nurses told us that they now check each other's recording to confirm that they have carried out their daily checks. One member of staff said "it's much better, we support each other by double checking."

One of the principal dentists showed us their online calendar system that helped remind them which daily and weekly checks needed to be carried out and when. This maintained the safe running of the practice as the relevant tests were completed and both the principal dentists were responsible for ensuring this had been done.

16 May 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke to two people who use the service and they had both been coming to the surgery for a minimum of 25 years.

One person we spoke to said " I come back to see Mr Wardle, I live in Richmond now." Another person we spoke to told us "i've been coming for over 30 years and I'm happy. Mr Barnes always explains what he will do."

On the day of the inspection we observed two people with the dentist. We saw that people were treated with respect and dignity and given time to have their treatment. We also saw that the dentist answered any question patients had to help them understand what the problem may be with their teeth.

We saw that treatment plans were updated with people's medical history at each visit. Current and future treatment was discussed with people to ensure their oral health was maintained. People received appointments for check ups by letter either every six or three months dependent on their agreed treatment.

Staff knew how to raise concerns if they suspected a safeguarding issue and who to contact outside of the surgery. The surgery's had an effective decontamination process which we observed.

We had concerns about the recording for certain checks which were part of their infection control and health and safety records. This was because some information had been pre dated.