Archived: Brian Parnell - Dental Surgery

We carried out this announced inspection on 26 February 2020 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 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 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 caring?

We found this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was not providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Brian Parnell - Dental Surgery is in Weymouth and provides NHS dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There was no level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Access to the practice, which was on a first floor town centre location, was via a set of stairs. The practice had identified the stairs as an access issue for some patients, and all new patients, upon contact with the practice, were advised of the situation and offered alternative arrangements, if necessary, with another local practice. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes one dentist, two dental nurses and one receptionist. The practice has two treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist. 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.

On the day of inspection, we collected 50 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with three other patients.

During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, one dental nurse and the receptionist We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

• Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm
• Friday 9am to 1pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• 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.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• 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 dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff for example the COSHH file
• The provider patient care notes were not adequately completed according to FGDP guidelines.
• The provider did not ensure audits were completed to drive improvements within the practice.

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

Full details of the regulation the provider was not meeting are at the end of this report.

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.