Archived: Brimington Dental Practice

Updated 17 June 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the practice was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection on 12 May 2016. The inspection team consisted of a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector and a dental specialist advisor.

Before the inspection we asked the for information to be sent, this included the complaints the practice had received in the last 12 months; their latest statement of purpose; the details of the staff members, their qualifications and proof of registration with their professional bodies. We spoke with seven members of staff during the inspection.

We also reviewed the information we held about the practice and found there were no areas of concern.

We reviewed policies, procedures and other documents. We received feedback from 33 patients about the dental service.

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 therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 17 June 2016

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 12 May 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

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

The practice is located in a single storey building close to the centre of Brimington on the outskirts of Chesterfield. There is car parking available to the front of the practice and this includes disabled parking. There are three ground floor treatment rooms.

The practice was first registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in July 2011. The practice provides regulated dental services to both adults and children. The practice provides mostly NHS dental treatment (98%). Services provided include general dentistry, dental hygiene, crowns and bridges, and root canal treatment.

The practice’s opening hours are: Monday to Thursday: 8:30am to 5pm and Friday 8:30am to 2pm. The practice is closed at weekends.

Access for urgent treatment outside of opening hours is by telephoning the practice and following the instructions on the answerphone message or by telephoning the NHS 111 emergency telephone number.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons 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 practice has two dentists; one dental hygienist (also a qualified dentist); two qualified dental nurses; two trainee dental nurses; two receptionists and a practice manager.

We received positive feedback from 33 patients about the services provided. This was through CQC comment cards left at the practice prior to the inspection and by speaking with patients in the practice.

Our key findings were:

• Patients provided positive feedback about their experiences at the practice. Patients said they were treated with dignity and respect.
• Dentists identified the different treatment options, and discussed these with patients.
• Patients’ confidentiality was maintained.
• There were systems in place to record accidents, significant events and complaints, and where learning points were identified these were shared with staff.
• The practice followed the relevant guidance from the Department of Health's: ‘Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM 01-05) for infection control with regard to cleaning and sterilizing dental instruments.
• There was a whistleblowing policy accessible to all staff, who were aware of procedures to follow if they had any concerns.
• Records showed there were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• The practice had the necessary equipment for staff to deal with medical emergencies, and staff had been trained how to use that equipment. This included an automated external defibrillator, oxygen and emergency medicines.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review its responsibilities with regards to the Control of Substance Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and, ensure all substances have a manufacturer’s data sheet so that staff understand how to minimise risks associated with the use of and handling of these substances.

• Review the practice’s sharps procedures giving due regard to the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013. Sharps bins should not be stored on the floor, and ideally should be wall mounted.

• Review the practice’s audit protocols of various aspects of the service, such as radiography at regular intervals to help improve the quality of service. The practice should also check all audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.

• Review the documentation to establish whether the practice is in compliance with its legal obligations under Ionising Radiation Regulations (IRR) 99 and Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulation (IRMER) 2000.