Archived: Whittle Dental Practice

We carried out this announced inspection on 28 August 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

Whittle Dental Practice is situated a Victorian terrace house on the outskirts of Chorley and provides predominantly privately funded treatment to adults and children. There is a limited NHS contract held by the practice.

The practice is on two floors of the building. There is step free access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. One dental surgery is situated on the ground floor. Two parking spaces are available at the front of the practice for blue badge holders.

The dental team includes two principal dentists, three associate dentists (one of which provides dental implantology services), a dental hygiene therapist, five dental nurses, a practice manager and one receptionist. The practice has three treatment rooms.

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 Whittle Dental Practice is one of the principal dentists.

On the day of inspection, we collected five CQC comment cards filled in by patients. Patients were positive about staff and the services the practice provided.

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

The practice is open:

Monday 9.15 to 5.30

Tuesday 9.15 to 5.30

Wednesday 9.00 to 6.30

Thursday 9.00 to 5.00

Friday 8.00 to 4.00

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean, tidy 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 provider had limited systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children We found multiple policies and staff were not aware which was the most recent.
• Fire checks were being done but there was limited documentation to supported this.
• The provider had suitable risk assessments to minimise the risk that can be caused from substances that are hazardous to health, but these were not supported by the manufacturers data information regarding risk.
• There was no suitable stock control system of medicines which were held on site.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures.
• 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 supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• The provider did not have effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
• 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’s information governance arrangements must be improved.

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

• Improve the practice's risk management systems for monitoring and mitigating the various risks arising from the undertaking of the regulated activities.

• Improve the practice’s arrangements for ensuring good governance and leadership are sustained in the longer term.
• Improve the practice's protocols for medicines management and ensure all medicines are stored and dispensed of safely and securely.
• Implement an effective system for identifying, disposing and replenishing of out-of-date stock.