Updated 11 July 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 18 June 2019 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 CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
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?
These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.
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.
Background
Canley Dental Surgery is in Canley, Coventry and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.
There is a small step into the building which makes access difficult for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Patients are advised of the step upon initial contact with the practice and the provider has plans in place to improve accessibility. Car parking spaces, including one space on the practice driveway for blue badge holders, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes the principal dentist, two dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse and one dental hygienist. All of the nurses are also trained to carry out reception duties. The practice has one treatment room.
The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.
On the day of inspection, we collected 18 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with one patient.
During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, two dental nurses and the trainee dental nurse. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Friday from 9am to 5.30pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
- The provider 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 to patients and staff.
- The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. Safeguarding contact details and flow charts were displayed in the waiting room and staff kitchen.
- The provider had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
- The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment mostly in line with current guidelines. Clinical records did not detail the risks and benefits of treatment options discussed with patients. The clinical notes template was updated within 48 hours of our inspection to rectify this.
- Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information. Due to the waiting room being within the reception area a notice was displayed in the waiting room advising patients that a private room could be made available for sensitive discussions.
- Staff were providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs. Patients could access routine treatment and emergency care when required.
- The provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided. Feedback from patients was overwhelmingly positive with patients advising that the team were caring, and they always received high quality treatment.
- The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the practice's protocols for completion of dental care records taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.
- Review the security of NHS prescription pads in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor their use.