Updated 5 June 2018
We carried out this announced inspection on 2 May 2018 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 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 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 form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.
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.
Background
Oldbury Dental Centre is in Oldbury Health Centre Dental Department, Oldbury, West Midlands and provides NHS treatment to adults and children.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including spaces for blue badge holders, are available in the Health Centre car park.
The dental team includes two dentists. The three dental nurses, receptionist and dental nurse manager who work at the practice are employed by Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust but are based at this practice. The practice has one treatment room and a separate decontamination room. The receptionist, reception and waiting area are shared with those patients visiting the community dental practice.
The practice building is leased 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.
On the day of inspection we collected 19 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.
During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, two dental nurses, the dental nurse manager and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday 9am to 12.30pm, Tuesday and Thursday 9am to12.30 and1.15pm to 4.30pm and Wednesday 9.30am to 12.30pm and 1.15pm to 4.30pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
- The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures. Dental nurses were employed by the Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust. The Trust also had suitable staff recruitment procedures.
- 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.
- The practice was providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system met patients’ needs.
- The practice had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team. Regular staff meetings were held.
- The practice asked patients for feedback about the services they provided. Positive feedback had been received.
- The practice had systems in place to deal with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The practice had suitable information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
Review the practice's responsibilities to take into account the needs of patients with disabilities and to comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.