Updated 26 May 2017
Background
Bhandal Dental Practice - The Arcade is located in Dudley and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages. There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. The premises are on the ground floor and consist of two treatment rooms, a reception area and a decontamination room. The practice is open on Monday to Friday 09:00am – 6:00pm.
The dental team includes the registered manager, two associate dentists, three dental nurses and a receptionist.
The practice is owned by a company 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. One of the associate dentists is the registered manager at Bhandal Dental Practice.
On the day of inspection we collected 23 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. We reviewed the NHS Friends and Family test and the practice patient satisfaction survey. Patients were positive about the service. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the staff.
During the inspection we spoke with one of the associate dentists, the clinical governance manager, two dental nurses and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
Our key findings were:
- The practice was clean and well maintained.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
- Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
- There were appropriate equipment and access to emergency drugs to enable the practice to respond to medical emergencies. Staff knew where equipment was stored.
- Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
- We found the dentists regularly assessed each patient’s gum health and took X-rays at appropriate intervals.
- Patients were involved in their care and treatment planning so they could make informed decisions.
- There were effective processes in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.
- The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and child protection.
- Equipment, such as the autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.
- The practice had implemented clear procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.
- Patients indicated that they found the team to be efficient, professional, caring and reassuring.
- Patients had good access to appointments, including emergency appointments, which were available on the same day.
- Leadership structures were clear and there were processes in place for dissemination of information and feedback to staff.