Northwood Hills Dental Clinic

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 26 October 2022 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 practice 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 advisor.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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:

• The dental clinic was visibly clean and well-maintained.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and staff 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.
• Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
• Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
• The dental clinic had information governance arrangements.
• The practice did not have infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• The provider did not have suitable staff recruitment procedures to comply with current legislation.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines. Improvements were needed to ensure information related to patient care was suitably recorded within the dental care records.
• Risks to staff and patients from undertaking of regulated activities had not been suitably identified and mitigated.
• There were ineffective systems to ensure the safety of radiography equipment.
• There was ineffective leadership and governance.

Background

Northwood Hills Dental Clinic is in Hillingdon and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available on site and near the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with additional needs.

The dental team includes the principal dentist, 1 associate dentist, 3 visiting dentists, 2 dental nurses and 1 dental hygienist. The practice has 2 treatment rooms and a separate decontamination room.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist and one dental nurse. 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 5.30pm

Friday 8am to 2pm

Saturdays by appointment only.

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/s the provider was not meeting are at the end of this report.

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

• Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry when completing dental care records.