Updated 14 June 2021
We carried out this announced inspection on 19 May 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 three 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
Lancaster Dental Clinic is in Skerton, Lancaster and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
The practice is accessed by a small step which may inhibit people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. On street parking is available near the practice.
The dental team includes one dentist, four dental nurses (one of whom manages the practice), one dental hygienist and a receptionist. The practice has two treatment rooms.
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 the principal dentist, two dental nurses including the manager and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- The provider had implemented standard operating procedures in line with national guidance on COVID-19.
- Staff had not completed sepsis awareness training. This was addressed immediately.
- 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.
- Staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. Not all staff had completed up to date training and local contact information was not available. This was addressed immediately.
- The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
- The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines. The documentation of this could be improved.
- Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- Staff felt involved, had lead roles and responsibilities and worked as a team.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider had appropriate information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Implement practice protocols and procedures to ensure staff are up to date with their training and their continuing professional development. In particular, safeguarding and sepsis awareness.
- Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice when completing dental care records.
- Improve the practice protocols regarding auditing patient dental care records and radiographs to check that necessary information is recorded.