TOOTHism Dental Clinic

Updated 26 November 2015

We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection on 24 September 2015. The inspection took place over one day. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector. They were accompanied by a dentist specialist advisor.

Prior to the inspection we reviewed information we held about the provider. We reviewed information received from the provider prior to the inspection. We also informed the NHS England area team that we were inspecting the practice; however we did not receive any information of concern from them.

During our inspection visit, we reviewed policy documents and checked dental care records to confirm our findings. We spoke with two dentists and the dental nurse. We conducted a tour of the practice and looked at the storage arrangements for emergency medicines and equipment. We dental decontamination procedures of dental instruments.

We reviewed 28 Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards completed by patients prior to our inspection and reviewed patient feedback gathered by the practice over the last 12 months.

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

• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• Is it caring?
• Is it responsive to people’s needs?
• Is it well-led?

These questions therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 26 November 2015

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 24 September 2015 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

The practice is one of two dental practices owned by the principal dentist with both registered separately with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The practice was founded in June 2010 by the principal dentist. The premises consist of two treatment rooms and one dedicated decontamination room. There are public and staff toilet facilities, a waiting room and separate reception area, an administrative office and staff kitchen.

The practice provides private dental services and treats both adults and children. There are approximately 1,300 registered patients. The practice offers a range of dental services including veneers, crowns and bridges, oral hygiene and fissure sealants.

The service is provided by two dentists one of whom is the principal, two dental hygiene therapists, a dental nurse and a receptionist. A trainee dental nurse has recently been employed by the practice who is due to replace the current dental nurse who is taking on an administration role from 1October 2015. The practice is open from 9:00 am to 6.00 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm on Thursday and from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm on Saturday. The practice is closed for lunch between 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm Monday to Friday.

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.

We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection on 24 September 2015. The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dentist specialist advisor.

We received 28 CQC comment cards completed by patients who all commented positively about the staff and the care they received from the practice. We reviewed patient feedback gathered by the practice over the last 12 months.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had systems to assess and manage risks to patients and staff, including for infection prevention and control, health and safety and the management of medical emergencies. The practice however did not have an automated external defibrillator (AED)

• Equipment, such as the autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers and oxygen cylinder were checked for effectiveness and were regularly serviced.
• Dental care records were well maintained and patients were referred for specialist treatment in a timely way.
• Patients said they felt the practice offered an excellent service and that the whole dental team were professional, caring, respectful and friendly.
• The practice had a clear vision for the services it provided and staff told us they were well supported by the management team.
• There was evidence that the practice audited many areas of their practice as part of a system of improvement and learning.

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

Review staff awareness of Gillick competency and the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and ensure all staff are aware of their responsibilities as it relates to their role.

Monitor and record the fridge temperature to ensure that medicines were being stored in line with the manufacturer’s guidance.

Review current protocols to ensure personnel records for all staff are appropriately maintained.