Blanchard and Castle Dental Practice

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 6 March 2023 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 practice was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations.

The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector who was supported by a specialist dental advisor.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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:

• The dental practice was visibly clean.
• The practice’s infection control procedures were not effective.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies.
• The provider did not operate effective systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• Staff recruitment procedures were not operated effectively.
• The clinicians provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• Staff training was not monitored effectively.
• The practice did not have appropriate quality assurance processes to encourage learning and continuous improvement.
• The practice did not have effective leadership.

Background

Blanchard & Castle, known as Oaktree Dental Practice, is in Newbury and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is step free access to the practice reception for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs.

The practice treatment rooms are based on the first floor of the practice. New patients are advised of this when they contact the practice.

Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes 6 dentists, 2 student dental nurses, 1 dental hygienist and 2 receptionists.

The practice has 3 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 1 dentist, 2 dental nurses, 1 dental hygienist, 2 receptionists and the practice manager.

We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

• Monday 9.00am – 5.00pm
• Tuesday 9.00am – 5.00pm
• Wednesday 9.00am – 5.00pm
• Thursday 9.00am – 5.00pm
• Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Take action to ensure that all clinical staff have adequate immunity for vaccine preventable infectious diseases.