Updated 24 September 2018
We carried out this unannounced inspection on 10 September 2018 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection, in response to concerns received, 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 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?
During this inspection, we looked at the question “Is it safe?” and this formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.
Our findings were:
Are services safe?
We found that this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
There is level access (via a portable ramp), for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking and public transport facilities are available near the practice.
The dental team includes two dentists, a visiting orthodontist, two dental nurses (one of whom is a trainee) a practice manager and two receptionists. The practice has four treatment rooms.
The practice was undergoing major refurbishment works, including, improving general and disabled access, all treatment rooms, waiting areas and installing a fully equipped disabled toilet.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers 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 registered manager at Red Lea Dental Practice is the practice manager.
During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, three dental nurses, a receptionist and the practice manager. We looked at the practice’s policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The practice staff had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
- The practice manager’s policies and risk assessments were greatly detailed and this helped ensure practice procedures were maintained to support the running of the practice.
- The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review staff training to manage medical emergencies taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council.
- Review the practice's protocols to ensure the security of clinical waste, taking into account the guidance issued in the Health Technical Memorandum 07-01: Safe management of healthcare waste.