• Dentist
  • Dentist

Totteridge Dental Studio - Totteridge Lane

59 Totteridge Lane, London, N20 0HD (020) 8445 5024

Provided and run by:
Totteridge Dental Studio Limited

All Inspections

8 August 2023

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We undertook a follow up focused inspection of Totteridge Dental Studio - Totteridge Lane on 8 August 2023. This inspection was carried out to review the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.

The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who had remote access to a specialist dental advisor.

We had previously undertaken a comprehensive inspection of Totteridge Dental Studio - Totteridge Lane on 14 March 2023 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We found the registered provider was not providing well-led care and was in breach of regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for Totteridge Dental Studio - Totteridge Lane dental practice on our website www.cqc.org.uk.

When 1 or more of the 5 questions are not met we require the service to make improvements and send us an action plan. We then inspect again after a reasonable interval, focusing on the areas where improvement was required.

As part of this inspection we asked:

  • Is it well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on 14 March 2023.

Background

Totteridge Dental Studio - Totteridge Lane is in the London Borough of Barnet and provides 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 are available near the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with specific needs.

The dental team includes the principal dentist, 1 associate dentist, 1 dental therapist, 1 trainee dental nurse and 1 qualified dental nurse who also undertakes practice management duties. They are supported by an administrator. The practice has 2 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with the practice manger and the dental therapist who is also one of the directors of the service. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday from 9am to 5pm.

Tuesday from 9am to 4pm

Wednesday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm.

14 March 2023

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 14 March 2023 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 advisor.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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:

  • The dental clinic appeared clean and well-maintained.
  • The practice had infection control procedures which broadly reflected published guidance. Improvements were needed to ensure that contaminated instruments were safely transported to the decontamination area.
  • Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
  • The practice had some systems to manage risks for patients, staff, equipment and the premises. Improvements were needed to the systems for assessing, monitoring and mitigating risks associated with fire, radiation safety and the use of sharps.
  • Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
  • The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
  • Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
  • Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Staff took care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
  • Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
  • The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
  • The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
  • Staff felt involved, supported and worked as a team.
  • Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
  • Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
  • The practice had information governance arrangements.

Background

Totteridge Dental Studio - Totteridge Lane is in the London Borough of Barnet and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The main entrance into the practice has steps; however, there is a second entrance with step free access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Limited car parking spaces are available for patients. The practice does not have an accessible toilet and they have systems in place to communicate this to patients prior to their appointments.

The dental team includes the principal dentist, 1 associate dentist, 1 dental therapist, 1 trainee dental nurse and 1 qualified dental nurse who also undertakes practice management duties. They are supported by an administrator. The practice has 2 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday from 9am to 5pm.

Tuesday from 9am to 4pm

Wednesday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm.

We identified regulation 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.

2 August 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with two patients on the day of our visit and reviewed feedback from patients on completed satisfaction questionnaires. Patients were satisfied with the dental care and treatment provided. Patients told us that treatment plans were clear and 'very well explained.' Written comments made by patients on completed questionnaires included 'the options were laid out in front of me' and 'the explanations had a logical basis.' Patients understood the costs of treatment in advance.

Patients we spoke with considered the practice was "always very clean" and levels of hygiene they observed were 'very good.' Effective systems for infection control were being implemented in the practice and dental instruments were cleaned and sterilised in a way that minimised the risk of infection.

Patients felt safe with the dentist and confident in their skills. Staff demonstrated the knowledge and skills needed to protect people from possible abuse. There was an effective system in place for assessing and monitoring the quality of the service.