Updated 19 August 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 30 July 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
Dynamic Dental Studio is a well-established practice based in Halesworth that offers private treatment to approximately 2000 patients. The practice has four dental surgeries. The dental team includes three dentists, a practice manager and four dental nurses. A hygienist works at the practice three days a week.
The practice is based on an upper floor but there is passenger lift access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs.
The practice opens from 8.30 am to 5 pm Monday to Thursdays, on Fridays from 8.30 am to 1 pm.
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 received feedback from 46 patients. We spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
Our key findings were:
- Patients were positive about all aspects of the service the practice provided and spoke highly of the treatment they received, and of the staff who delivered it.
- Premises and equipment were clean and properly maintained and the practice followed national guidance for cleaning, sterilising and storing dental instruments.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures to ensure only suitable staff were employed.
- Patients’ needs were assessed, and care was planned and delivered in line with current best practice guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and other published guidance.
- Patients received their care and treatment from well supported staff, who enjoyed their work.
- Members of the dental team were up-to-date with their continuing professional development and were supported to meet the requirements of their professional registration.
- Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.