Archived: Prais Dental Care Lyttelton House

We carried out this announced inspection on 10 September 2021 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 CQC specialist dental advisor.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we usually ask five key questions, however due to the ongoing 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:

Are services safe?

We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

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

Background

Prais Dental Care Lyttleton House is in the London Borough of Barnet and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

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.

The practice consists of the principal dentist, four associate dentists, an orthodontist and a dentist with special interest in endodontics. Three dental hygienists, two dental hygiene therapists and five dental nurses also work at the practice. The clinical team are supported by two receptionists and a practice manager. The practice has five treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, one associate dentist, one dental hygienist, two dental nurses, two receptionists and the practice manager.

The practice is open:

8.30am to 5.30pm on Mondays to Thursdays

8.30am to 3pm on Fridays

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance. These include arrangements to manage risks of COVID-19 virus in accordance with current guidelines.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available, and staff undertook training in basic life support.
• The provider had 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 had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.