Archived: Village Dental Practice

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 11 March 2022 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 practice 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 usually ask five key questions, however due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to reduce time spent on site, only the following three questions were asked:

• 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 was clean and well-maintained.
• The provider’s infection control procedures were not operated effectively
• Appropriate life-saving equipment was available.
• The provider did not operate effective systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider’s staff recruitment procedures required improvement.
• The clinicians provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The provider did not have a culture of continuous improvement.
• The provider’s information governance arrangements were operated effectively.

Background

Village Dental Practice is in Reading and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including parking for disabled people, are available near the practice. The practice has made adjustments to support patients with additional access requirements.

The dental team includes three dentists, two dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse, a receptionist and a practice manager.

The practice has two treatment rooms.

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

The practice is open:

• Monday 9.00am to 5.00pm
• Tuesday 9.00am to 5.00pm
• Wednesday 9.00am to 5.00pm
• Thursday 9.00am to 5.00pm
• Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm

The practice is closed for lunch between 1.00pm and 2.00pm daily.

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 a system to ensure patient referrals to other dental or health care professionals are centrally monitored to ensure they are received in a timely manner and not lost.
  
  
• Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry when completing dental care records.

• Take action to ensure dentists are aware of the guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment.

• Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry.

• Implement practice protocols and procedures to ensure staff are up to date with their mandatory training and their continuing professional development.