Updated 10 June 2021
We carried out this announced inspection on 19 May 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 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 well-led?
We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Bancroft Dental Surgery is a well-established practice that offers both private and NHS treatment to patients. It is based in Hitchin and has four treatment rooms. The dental team includes four dentists, an endodontist, a periodontist, six dental nurses, five hygienists and reception staff.
The practice is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 am to 6pm; on Tuesdays from 8am to 7pm; on Thursdays from 8am to 5.30pm, on Fridays from 8am to 1pm; and on alternate Saturdays from 8am to 1pm.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC as the registered manager. Registered managers 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 registered manager at the practice is the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection, we spoke with two dentists, the practice/business manager, two dental nurses and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
Our key findings were:
- Premises and equipment were clean and properly maintained, and the practice followed national guidance for cleaning, sterilising and storing dental instruments.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- Patients’ care and treatment was provided in line with current guidelines and IT was used effectively to enhance the delivery of care.
- Staff felt valued and supported and were encouraged to develop their dental careers
- There was effective leadership and a culture of audit and continuous improvement.
- Patient complaints were managed positively and efficiently.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Implement an effective system for receiving and responding to patient safety alerts, recalls and rapid response reports issued by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, the Central Alerting System and other relevant bodies, such as Public Health England.
- Implement an effective recruitment procedure to ensure that appropriate checks are completed prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice.
- Review the storage of Glucagon to ensure its effectiveness is maintained.
- Improve the recording and analyses of sharps injuries to help prevent their recurrence.