The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Archived: Tamworth Dental Practice

25 Albert Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7JS (01827) 62152

Provided and run by:
Tamworth Dental Practice

Important: The partners registered to provide this service have changed. See old profile
Important: The partners registered to provide this service have changed. See new profile

All Inspections

18 September 2014

During an inspection in response to concerns

We carried this unannounced inspection at Tamworth Dental Practice as we had received information of concern. We spoke with a dental nurse and the practice manager, looked at infection control and decontamination records, and checked the registration of staff who worked as dental nurses.

We saw the Departments of Health's guidance on infection prevention control in primary care dental practice known as HTM 01 05 was being followed. The process demonstrated that the essential quality requirements for infection control were being met.

The x-ray sets used in the practice were being appropriately maintained. Audits monitored the dentists compliance with the guidelines set out in the Ionising Radiation for Medical Exposure Regulations 2000 or IR (ME) R 2000.

Equipment used to sterilise the dental instruments was maintained in accordance with current guidelines using an appropriate maintenance engineer.

There were systems in place to check that dental nurses were registered with their professional body. The registration of each nurse was in date.

28 June 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Why we carried out this review

We carried out this review to check that the provider had made the improvements they said they would make following our last visit on 25 January 2012. At our last visit we found that effective recruitment procedures were not in place to ensure staff employed in the home were suitable to work with vulnerable people.

We arranged our visit over the telephone a few days before the planned visit date. This was done to make sure the relevant people would be available to talk to us.

We spoke with the practice manager, administration manager and were introduced to other staff working at the surgery. The managers were confident that they had made the changes needed to help improve the way the practice was run.

We looked at all the staff files for people currently employed by the practice. The files showed that effective recruitment procedures were in place to ensure staff employed in the practice were suitable to work with vulnerable people. We saw that recruitment procedures had been reviewed so that staff were aware what pre-employment checks would be carried out and the reason for this. Information available showed that staff had signed to say they had read and understood the surgery's recruitment policy and procedure.

We looked at systems in place and talked to the practice manager about the changes that had been made since our last visit. We saw that the provider had made other improvements based on information noted in the inspection in January. Other changes made included improving access to the building. These changes helped to ensure the dental practice could operate safely.

We had a brief look around the practice. The practice manager showed us the work that had been carried out to improve the access to the building. It was noted at our last visit that there may be potential hazards for people who needed assistance with mobility for example, people who used wheelchairs or if accessing the premises with a pushchair. We saw that the provider had completed the work to make the there was level access to the rear of the building. Comments made by people who used the service showed that they were pleased with the changes that had been made.

We found that action had been taken to make sure medicines were safely stored in the practice. For example systems had been put in place to monitor stocks of medicines received and prescribed by the dentists.

25 January 2012

During a routine inspection

We carried out this review to check on the care and welfare of people using the service. We looked at the cleanliness of the service and the infection control systems that were in place. We checked their medication management systems, the premises and how staff were recruited.

We talked to seven people about the service and the treatment they received. Some people spoke with us during our visit and some people spoke with us on the telephone. All of the information we obtained from our contact with people was positive. People knew how to complain but never had cause to do so.

People told us the staff had helped them overcome their fear of dentists and supported them through treatments. One person told us 'I used to be very nervous, but they make you feel at ease. I've learnt I can trust them and I no longer worry about going to the dentist.' 'The staff have been absolutely fantastic. They always tell you what they're doing, and I've always been treated well'

People felt involved in making decisions about the dental care they received and were given the information they needed about this and the costs involved. People told us they were given time to consider the options available to them and were never put under pressure to have a specific treatment.

We saw that the arrangements for control of infection and the decontamination of instruments were in place. Staff said they felt confident with the procedures and that there was additional guidance to follow if needed. Staff were able to show us the decontamination process and describe how the equipment was monitored to ensure it was working efficiently.

People we spoke with said everything always looked clean and they were satisfied with the standards of cleanliness. They told us they saw staff washing their hands and using disposable gloves. People were always provided with glasses to protect their eyes and aprons where any treatment was completed.

There were arrangements in place to deal with emergency situations including annual training for all staff for resuscitation and the use of emergency equipment.