• Dentist
  • Dentist

Maxted Meaden Dental Practice

14 Thanet Road, Bexley, Kent, DA5 1AN (01322) 523813

Provided and run by:
Maxted Meaden Dental Practice

All Inspections

15 November 2021

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out this announced inspection on 15 November 2021 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 usually ask five key questions, however due to the ongoing pandemic and to reduce time spent on site, only the following three questions were asked:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• 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 well-led?

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Maxted Meaden Dental Practice is the London Borough of Bexley and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is level access to the practice for people who those with pushchairs, however, all dental surgeries are upstairs. The practice has arrangements in place to refer patients in wheelchairs to other local practices if required. A limited number of car parking spaces are available at the practice. There is a local car park close to the practice.

The dental team includes two principal dentists, two associate dentists, three dental nurses, two dental hygienists, one receptionist and a practice manager. The receptionist and practice manager are also qualified nurses and can provide nursing cover if required. 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 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 Maxted Meaden Dental Practice is the practice manager.

During the inspection we spoke with one of the principal dentists, one dental nurse, the receptionist 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 to Friday 8am to 5pm and every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month 8.30am to 1.00pm.

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. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
  • 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.
  • 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 provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
  • The provider had information governance arrangements.
  • The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
  • The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
  • The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines. Improvements were required to ensure this was reflected in dental care records.
  • Improvements were required to the systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.

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, in particular in relation to fire risk assessing.

Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry when completing dental care records.

25 February 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke to two patients during the inspection. Both had been longstanding patients of the practice. Both were unanimous in stating that they were very happy with the service they had received. They also advised us that they always felt that their views were taken into consideration, charges for treatment were transparent and that they were involved in decisions regarding their treatment. They complimented the practice on its cleanliness and friendliness. Both stated that they would and have already recommended the practice to friends and family.

We observed that the practice had a friendly atmosphere and that staff were courteous and polite. The practice made effort to ensure that patients had access to information regarding their treatment and actively sort the views of their patients. Treatment was provided in a clean and safe environment.