Pipers Dental Practice

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 9th December 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 Care Quality Commission, (CQC), inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we asked the following three questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

Our findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• 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.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Some medicines and life-saving equipment were unavailable.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff although improvements were ongoing with systems to enhance their effectiveness.
• The provider had effective leadership and an open culture although improvements were required in some areas of the practice.

Background

Pipers Dental Practice is in Oxted and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The practice is accessed via an internal staircase. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes four dentists, one dental nurse and two receptionists. The practice has two treatment rooms, one of which is not currently used.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, one dental nurse and one receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

• Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm
• Saturday 8.30am to 12.30pm

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care

Full details of the regulation the provider was not meeting are at the end of this report.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry.
• Improve the practice protocols regarding auditing patient dental care records to check that necessary information is recorded.
• Take action to ensure the clinicians carry out patient assessments and ensure they are in compliance with current legislation and take into account relevant nationally recognised evidence-based guidance.
• Improve the practice's processes for the control and storage of substances hazardous to health identified by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, to ensure risk assessments are undertaken and the products are stored securely.