The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Archived: Seabank Dental Practice

62 Seabank Road, Wallasey, Merseyside, CH45 7PF (0151) 639 1350

Provided and run by:
Dr. Anthony Slee

All Inspections

26 January 2015

During a routine inspection

We carried out a comprehensive inspection of Seabank Dental Practice on 26 January 2015.

CQC inspected the practice in 2014 and asked the provider to make improvements regarding infection prevention and control and quality monitoring. We judged these had a moderate impact on patient care. We checked these areas as part of this comprehensive inspection and found these have been addressed.

At the time of the inspection Seabank Dental Practice provided private dental care to patients of all ages. The services provided include preventative advice and treatment and routine and restorative dental care. In 2014 the provider entered into an agreement with a corporate dental provider to support change and improvements in the practice. We spoke with the practice manager and practice lead from the corporate provider as part of this inspection.

The practice has one full time dentist and one part time dentist. Two further part-time dentists are scheduled to join the practice in the next few weeks. Two dental nurses, a dental nurse trainee and three part time dental hygienists are part of the practice team.

We reviewed 12 completed CQC comment cards. Patients we spoke with and those who completed comments cards were positive about the care they received from the practice. They commented staff were caring, helpful and respectful.

Our key findings were:

  • The practice had systems in place to help ensure patient safety. These included maintaining infection prevention and control standards.
  • Patients were given information and time to make informed decisions about their treatment. Staff ensured patients gave their consent before treatment began. Dental care records we looked at were detailed and showed on-going monitoring of patients’ oral health.
  • Patients commented on CQC comment cards and in the latest annual survey they were treated with respect and dignity. We observed privacy and confidentiality were maintained for patients using the service on the day of the inspection.
  • Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed. There were clear instructions for patients regarding out of hours care.
  • The management structure in place at the time of the inspection provided clearly defined leadership roles and included a practice manager and practice lead employed by the corporate provider. These management roles led on aspects of governance such as handling complaints, risk management and audits and staff development

20 May and 19 June 2014

During an inspection looking at part of the service

At a previous inspection on the 17 and 21 February 2014, we identified concerns regarding risk to the health and safety of patients using the service. Also the ability of the provider to monitor the quality and safety of the service provided. We issued warning notices to the provider requiring them to be compliant with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 by May 2014. We also identified other concerns with regard to how the provider maintained records and a clean and hygienic environment for patients. Compliance actions were made to ensure improvements were made.

The purpose of this inspection was to check if the provider were compliant with the warning notices and the compliance actions.

Prior to the inspection the provider informed us he had sought the help and support of a corporate dental provider to support change and improvements at the practice. Discussions with the provider and representatives of the corporate dental provider indicated that it was the intention of both parties to enter into a partnership. This was to enable change and to support and embed safe and effective working practices at Seabank Dental Practice. Following the inspection we received written confirmation of the intention of the provider to enter into a partnership.

Patient records showed that patients' medical records were being routinely taken and recorded on the computer system used at the practice. They also showed where necessary medical alerts had been identified on the electronic records.

The recently completed dental infection control audit tool indicated that the practice was 62% compliant with the Decontamination Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM01-05): Decontamination in primary care dental practices 2013. This meant there were significant shortfalls in how the provider maintained a safe and hygienic environment for the purpose of treating patients'.

Some improvements have been made to how the practice monitors the safety and quality of the service provided. However, further improvements were needed to ensure proposed changes were monitored and evaluated to ensure improvements for patients' were appropriate and sustainable.

17, 21 February 2014

During an inspection in response to concerns

Prior to the inspection NHS Commissioners had raised concerns with us with regard to the safety and quality of the service provided at Seabank Dental Practice.

We spoke with four patients who all said they were happy with the service provided. Some comments made were:

"I have been coming here for many years and I am very satisfied with the treatment I receive."

"I am with the new dentist and I am very happy with my treatment."

Patient records did not contain all the relevant clinical information to show a full oral health assessment had been carried out. In addition there were significant gaps in patients' medical histories where either a medical history had not been taken or it had not been checked prior to treatment being commenced. Patient records also showed that the provider did not routinely provide patients with treatment plans, written costs and different treatment options.

The provider did not have robust infection control processes in place in his treatment room.

There were no systems in place to monitor the safety and quality of the service provided at Seabank Dental Practice. There were no audits in place to check the robustness of infection control and decontamination processes, prescribing of antibiotics and patient records. There were no systems to analyse incidents that had the potential to result in harm to patients, so there was no action taken to prevent reoccurrence.

The lack of a robust records system placed patients at risk of not having their medical conditions and medication regimes appropriately risk assessed to ensure their treatment plan was safe and met their oral health needs.

22 October 2012

During a routine inspection

We were unable to speak with patients at the time of the inspection visit. We requested the provider seek consent from five patients for us to contact them. The provider did not supply this information therefore we have been unable to seek patient views as part of this inspection process.

There were information leaflets for patients to access in the reception area. They covered a range of subjects such as healthy eating and how to maintain good oral hygiene. There were policies and procedures in place for the dentists to follow if following an examination they felt a patient needed to be referred to other healthcare professionals.

Discussions with staff, the practice manager and records viewed showed that currently the practice had one qualified dental nurse working two days per week and two trainee dental nurses working full time. We spoke with two members of staff who demonstrated a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities regarding who to refer concerns about abuse or neglect to. Both understood the whistle blowing procedures in place at the service.

We found the treatment rooms were clean, free from clutter with surfaces that could be cleaned and disinfected between patients. There were supplies of soap, hand towels, masks and gloves for the staff team to use.