Putney Dentists

We carried out this announced inspection on 17 August 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 specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we asked the following questions:

• 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

Putney Dentist is located in the London Borough of Wandsworth and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The practice is on the ground floor of the building and has four treatment rooms and a separate decontamination room.

There is ramped access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. The practice is located close to public transport services and paid for car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities. .

The dental team includes six dentists, five dental nurses, two dental hygienists , three receptionists, and a practice manager.

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.

During the inspection we spoke with a dentist, two dental nurses, two receptionists, one of the hygienists and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Saturday 8.30 am – 1.30pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• There were systems in place to reduce the risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• 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.
• 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 asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.

• Implement a system to ensure patient referrals to other dental or health care professionals are centrally monitored to ensure they are received in a timely manner and not lost.

• Take action to ensure audits of radiography and infection prevention and control have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.