TG's Dental Suite - Earls Barton

Updated 14 February 2020

We carried out this announced inspection on 10 December 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 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 providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

TG’s Dental Suite – Earls Barton is in a village in Northamptonshire. It provides mostly private dental care and has an NHS contract to provide treatment for children. Services include general dentistry and dental implants. It is one of four dental practices run by the provider.

There is no level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs.

Car parking spaces are available on the street, close to the premises.

The dental team includes two dentists, four dental nurses, two dental hygienists, one receptionist and a trainee practice manager. The practice has three treatment rooms, one on ground floor level.

The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC 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 TG’s Dental Suite – Earls Barton is the principal dentist.

On the day of inspection, we collected 20 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.

During the inspection we spoke with the practice owner, two dentists, three dental nurses, one dental hygienist, the receptionist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures, patient feedback and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9am to 5pm, Thursday from 9am to 7.45pm and Friday from 9am to 12.30pm.

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. We found that some of the appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available on the day but noted exceptions. Missing items were ordered immediately after our visit.
• The provider had systems to help them manage most risks to patients and staff. We noted some areas for review such as ensuring all staff complete training in sepsis management and strengthening processes for incident reporting.
• 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.
• The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• 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 had systems in place to deal with complaints.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.

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

• Implement an effective system for recording, investigating and reviewing incidents or significant events with a view to preventing further occurrences and ensuring that improvements are made as a result.
• Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice when completing dental care records.
• Improve and develop staff awareness of Gillick competency guidelines and ensure all staff are aware of their responsibilities in relation to this.