Archived: Basson Medical Limited

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 20 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

Basson Medical Limited is a dental surgery located in Croydon and provides private dental services. The demographics of the local area were mixed and the practice served patients from a range of social, economic and ethnic backgrounds.

The practice staffing consists of one dentist, one dental nurse, one receptionist, a cleaner and a practice manager.

The practice is open from 8.30am to 5.00pm on Monday, 10.00am to 8.00pm on Tuesday, 9.00am to 2.00pm on Wednesday, 11.00am to 7.30pm on Thursday and 9.00am to 1.00pm on Fridays.

The practice is set out over two floors. Facilities include one surgery, manager’s office, staff kitchen/ staff room, patient waiting room, store room. Decontamination of instruments is currently carried out in the surgery. The practice manager showed us plans for the development of a separate decontamination room. There is step free access to the building and the surgery was accessible to patients with mobility problems through a stair lift.

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.

We received feedback from 15 patients which included completed Care Quality Commission comment cards and speaking with patients during our inspection. Patient feedback was very positive about the service. They were also complimentary about the staff stating they were polite caring and courteous. They told us that the premises were always clean and tidy when they attended. People referred to being treated with dignity and respect and receiving a high level of care and treatment.

Our key findings were:

• Systems were in place for the provider to receive safety alerts from external organisations and they were shared appropriately with staff.
• Processes were in place for staff to learn from incidents and lessons learnt were discussed amongst staff.
• There were systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. Dental instruments were decontaminated suitably.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance.
• Patients were involved in their care and treatment planning so they could make informed decisions.
• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was well maintained.
• Staff had access to mandatory medical emergency medicines and medical oxygen. However many items from the recommended list were not present and they did not have an automated external defibrillator (AED) available on the premises.
• There were processes in place to safeguard patients from abuse.
• All clinical staff were up to date with their continuing professional development.
• The practice was carrying out risk assessments regularly.
• Governance arrangements were in place, including audits being completed which evidenced continuous learning.

You can see full details of the regulations not being met at the end of this report.

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

• Review availability of medicines to manage medical emergencies giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK), and the General Dental Council (GDC) standards for the dental team.
• Review the suitability of the premises and ensure all parts were fit for the purpose for which they are being used.
• Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance, in relation to the flooring in the dental surgery.