Updated 15 May 2017
We carried out this announced inspection on 19 April 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.
We told the NHS England area team and Healthwatch that we were inspecting the practice. They did not provide any information which we took into account.
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
London Road Dental Centre is in Croydon and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs.
The dental team includes five dentists, four trainee dental nurses and four receptionists. The practice has three treatment rooms, two decontamination rooms, two patient waiting rooms and staff rooms.
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 17 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice. Three of the comment card stated waiting times were sometimes an issue.
During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, three dental nurses and one receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: 9.30am to 6.00pm Monday to Fridays and 9.30am to 1.00pm on Saturdays.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared clean and was 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 safeguarding processes in place however the safeguarding policy required updating. Staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
- The practice had staff recruitment procedures however they were not always following them when recruiting staff.
- 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.
- The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.