Archived: Creffield Road Dental Practice

Updated 17 July 2017

Ward and Hockley also known as Creffield Road Dental Practice is in Colchester and provides private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces are limited.

The provider, Creffield Road Dental Surgery is one of two separate dental practices, that operate out of the same building under a separate registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The dental team includes one dentist and one dental nurse. The practice has an arrangement with the other dental surgery for the use of one treatment room. In addition the practice had a agreement to share other facilities within the building. For example; receptionists, telephone facilities, reception area, toilets, staff room and the waiting area are used by both dental practices under an expense sharing agreement. Both practices share computer software, decontamination facilities, and a number of running costs, including utility bills. We saw from minutes of meetings that Creffield Road Dental Surgery monitored the services provided within this agreement to ensure they were meeting requirements.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

On the day of inspection we collected 31 CQC comment cards filled in by patients, there were no patients available to speak with on the day. The information we received gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with one dentist and one dental nurse, we also spoke with members of the reception and dental nursing staff from the principal dental practice in the building. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday to Thursday from 8.30 to 12..45 and Friday from 8.45 to 3.15 for a hygienist service.

Updated 17 July 2017

We carried out this announced inspection on 15 June 2017 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.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice 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.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• 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.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• There was an ethos of open discussion between the dentist and nurse and feedback was encouraged from patients about the services they provided.

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

• Review the practice’s audit protocols to ensure X-ray audits are undertaken at regular intervals and where applicable learning points are documented and shared with all relevant staff.
• Review the practice process for monitoring urgent referrals to ensure they are dealt with promptly.
• Review the practice’s sharps procedures and ensure the practice is in compliance with the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.
• Ensure all staff are aware of the practice’s consent policy including information about the Mental Capacity Act 2005 policy and Gillick competence.
• Review the practice process for appraisals and ensure all future staff appraisals are documented in staff records.

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