Archived: The London Dental Studio

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 02 June 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

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

London Dental Studio is located in the London Borough of Westminster. The premises are situated in a two-storey building in a high-street location. There are five treatment rooms, a decontamination room, two X-ray rooms, two reception areas and patient toilets. These are distributed across the ground, first and second floors of the building.

The practice provides NHS and private services to adults and children. The practice offers a range of dental services including routine examinations and treatment, veneers and crowns and bridges. The practice also offers specialist services such as implants, orthodontics and conscious sedation.

The staff structure of the practice consists of two principal dentists, three associate dentists, one hygienist, five dental nurses, a practice manager and five receptionists. There is also an endodontist and a specialist orthodontist.

The practice opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 6.00pm. The practice is also open from 9.00am to 5.00pm on Saturdays.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons 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 inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist advisor.

Thirty people provided feedback about the service. Patients were positive about the care they received from the practice. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the dental staff.

Our key findings were:

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

• There were effective systems in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.
• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children living in vulnerable circumstances.
• Staff reported incidents and kept records of these which the practice used for shared learning.
• There were effective arrangements in place for managing medical emergencies.
• Equipment, such as the air compressor, fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.
• Patients indicated that they felt they were listened to and that they received good care from a helpful and caring practice team.
• The practice ensured staff maintained the necessary skills and competence to support the needs of patients.
• The practice had implemented clear procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.
• The provider had a clear vision for the practice and staff told us they were well supported by the staff team.
• There were arrangements for identifying, recording and managing risks through the use of risk assessment processes. However, we identified some areas where improvements were required.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review the systems for checking and monitoring equipment to ensure that all equipment is well maintained.
• Review the practice’s system for the recording, investigating and reviewing incidents or significant events with a view to preventing further occurrences and ensuring that improvements are made as a result.
• Review the protocols and procedures for use of X-ray equipment giving due regard to Guidance Notes for Dental Practitioners on the Safe Use of X-ray Equipment.
• Review the practice's protocols for completion of dental care records giving due regard to guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice regarding clinical examinations and record keeping.
• Review the practice’s audit protocols, such as those for radiography, conscious sedation and dental care records, to help monitor and improve the quality of service. The practice should check audits, where applicable have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.
• Review its responsibilities to the needs of people with a disability and the requirements of the equality Act 2010 and ensure a Disability Discrimination Act audit is undertaken for the premises.