Sundon Dental Practice - Luton

Updated 7 January 2016

The inspection was carried out on 9 December 2015 by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist advisor. We reviewed information received from the provider prior to the inspection. On the day of our inspection we looked at practice policies and protocols, clinical patient records and other records relating to the management of the service. We spoke with one of the practice owners, the practice manager, two dentists, two dental nurses, a trainee dental nurse and a receptionist (who was also a dental nurse).

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?

This informed our view of the care provided and the management of the practice.

Updated 7 January 2016

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 9 December 2015 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.

Sundon Dental Practice is a general dental practice in Leagrave, Bedfordshire offering NHS and private dental treatment to adults and children.

The premises are located on the ground and first floor and consist of four treatment rooms, a reception area, two waiting rooms and a decontamination room which housed the autoclave (steriliser).

The staff at the practice consist of a practice manager, five associate dentists, four dental nurses and a trainee dental nurse. The practice is owned by two dentists who, although they are based at another or their dental practices, provide ongoing support to the practice team.

The practice manager is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. 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.

Our key findings were:

• There was a detailed induction and training programme for staff to follow which ensured they were skilled and competent in delivering safe and effective care and support to patients.

• The practice ensured staff maintained the necessary skills and competence to support the needs of patients.

• There were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. We found the treatment rooms and equipment were visibly clean.

• There were systems in place to check equipment had been serviced regularly, including the dental air compressor, autoclaves, fire extinguishers, oxygen cylinder and the X-ray equipment.

• We found the dentists regularly assessed each patient’s gum health and took X-rays at appropriate intervals.

• The practice kept up to date with current guidelines when considering the care and treatment needs of patients.

• The practice placed a strong emphasis on the promotion of oral and general health. Appropriate information and advice was available according to patients’ individual needs.

• Staff had been trained to handle emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were readily available.

• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.

• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.

• The appointment system met the needs of patients and waiting times were kept to a minimum.

• There was an effective complaints system and the practice was open and transparent with patients if a mistake had been made.

• Staff demonstrated knowledge of the practice whistleblowing policy and were confident they would raise a concern about another staff member’s performance if it was necessary.

• At our visit we observed staff were kind, caring and professional. Many staff had worked at the practice for a long time and demonstrated they knew patients well when they greeted them.

• We received feedback from 34 patients. Comments included people felt they received excellent care from a practice team who were very friendly and caring and who listened to and understood their individual needs..

• There was an effective system in place to act on feedback received from patients and staff.
• There were systems in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality of service provided.