Updated 17 April 2024
We undertook a follow up focused inspection of Sterlingway Dental on 1 March 2024. This inspection was carried out to review the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.
The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental advisor.
Previous regulatory history
An announced focused inspection of Sterlingway Dental Surgery was undertaken on 7 June 2022 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We found the registered provider was not providing safe and well-led care and was in breach of regulations 12,13,17,18 and 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
An unannounced focused inspection was carried out on 23 September 2022 to review the actions taken by the provider in response to our findings of 7 June 2022. At this follow up inspection we found that while some improvements had been made, a number of areas of concern remained outstanding. We found that the provider was still not providing safe and well-led care and remained in breach of regulations 12 and 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
Another unannounced focused inspection was carried out on 27 January 2023 to review the actions taken by the provider in response to our findings of 23 September 2022. At this review we found that although the provider had implemented actions to address our previous concerns, we identified new concerns. We found that the provider was still not providing well-led care and remained in breach of regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
We undertook a third follow-up inspection on 31 March 2023 to review the actions taken by the provider in response to our findings of 27 January 2023. At this inspection we found that the practice implemented some improvements to address our previous findings, but we found some outstanding concerns and identified new issues. We found that the provider was still not providing well-led care and was again not providing safe care. We found the provider was in breach of regulations 12 and 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
We undertook a fourth follow-up inspection on 5 September 2023 to review the actions taken by the provider in response to our findings of 31 March 2023. At this inspection we found that the practice implemented some improvements to address our previous findings, but we found some outstanding concerns. We found that the provider was still not providing safe and well-led care and was in breach of regulations 12 and 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for Sterlingway Dental Surgery on our website www.cqc.org.uk.
As part of this inspection we asked:
- Is it safe?
- Is it well-led?
Our findings were:
Are services safe?
We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breaches we found at our inspection on 5 September 2023.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breaches we found at our inspection on 5 September 2023.
Background
Sterlingway Dental Surgery is in Edmonton, in the London Borough of Enfield, 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 near the practice.
The dental team includes the principal dentist, 1 dental nurse and 1 trainee dental nurse, who also undertakes receptionist duties. The practice has 2 treatment rooms and a separate decontamination room.
During the inspection we spoke with the dentist, the dental nurse and the trainee dental nurse. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Friday from 8am to 7pm.
Saturday from 8am to 2pm.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Improve the practice's systems for assessing, monitoring and mitigating the various risks arising from the undertaking of the regulated activities including storage of emergency medication and staff awareness of managing medical emergency. In addition, ensure that fire risk assessment is reviewed regularly and the emergency lighting is serviced in a timely manner.
- Take action to ensure the clinician takes into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry when completing dental care records.
- Take action to ensure the clinician carries out patient assessments in line with current legislation and takes into account relevant nationally recognised evidence-based guidance. In particular, ensure that the clinician is aware of the current evidence-based practice in relation to the management of periodontal patients.
- Implement improvements to ensure audits of antibiotic medicines takes into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry and the radiography audit includes a representative sample in line with the current guidance. The practice should also ensure that, where appropriate, audits have documented learning points, and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.