Updated 18 July 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 19 June 2019 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 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 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
Chilwell Dental Practice is in the Beeston area of Nottingham. The practice provides both NHS and private dental treatment to adults and children. This report relates to the NHS dentistry carried out at the practice. We have produced a separate report relating to the private dentistry.
There is level access through the front door, and room for patients who hold a blue badge to park at the front of the practice. The practice has four treatment rooms, one is located on the ground floor.
The dental team includes four dentists, one dental hygiene therapist, seven dental nurses, including three trainee dental nurses and the practice manager, two patient co-ordinators and one practice support manager.
The practice is owned by a partnership 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 Chilwell Dental Practice is the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection, we collected 20 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with two others in the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, the hygiene therapist and four dental nurses including the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday: from 8.30am to 6pm, Tuesday: from 8.30am to 7pm, Wednesday: from 8.30am to 6pm, Thursday: from 8.30am to 7pm, Friday: from 8.30am to 6pm and Saturday: by appointment.
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 had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had the staff recruitment information required by the Regulations.
- 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 were providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked well 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 suitable information governance arrangements.