Updated 12 July 2017
Background
Knibbs Dental Surgery is in Bournemouth and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.
There is ramp access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including patients with disabled badges, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes five dentists, seven dental nurses, one apprentice dental nurse, four dental hygienists, four receptionists, one administration assistant and one practice manager. The practice has five treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by an individual and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission 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 Knibbs Dental Surgery was the owner.
On the day of inspection we collected 25 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with eight other patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with five dentists, five dental nurses, three receptionists, one practice manager and the registered manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5pm and Friday 8:30am to 4pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice was 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.
- 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 appointment system met patients’ needs.
- The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols to take into account guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and have regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’
- Review its responsibilities as regards the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and ensure all documentation is up to date and staff understand how to minimise risks associated with the use and handling of these substances.
- Review the current performance review systems in place and have an effective process established for the on-going assessment and supervision of all staff.
- Review the practice's protocols for medicines management and ensure all medicines are stored and dispensed safely and securely.