Mcveigh Dental Care Ascot

We carried out this announced inspection on 13 November 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

McVeigh Dental Care Ascot is in Ascot and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.

There is stepped access into the practice. The provider made arrangements to improve access during our inspection.

Car parking spaces, including space for blue badge holders, are available at the front of the practice.

The dental team includes two dentists, one dental nurses, three dental hygienists and two receptionists. The practice has two treatment 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, the practice was closed.

We collected 26 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.

During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, one dental nurse and a receptionist.

We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

• Monday 7:30 am - 8:00 pm

• Tue, Fri 7:30 am - 1:00 pm

• Wed – Thu 7:30 am - 5:00 pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures but improvements were needed to the environment and the storage cleaning equipment.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures but improvements were needed to ensure all the appropriate checks were carried out.
• 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.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.

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

• Improve the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’. In particular, floor covering, skirting board/floor seals and storage arrangements for cleaning equipment.
• Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice when completing dental care records. In particular, recording smoking and alcohol consumption and ensure hygienists are included when auditing patient dental care records and re-audits, where necessary, are carried out in a timely way.
• Review the practice’s medical emergencies training procedures to ensure all staff carry out practical basic life support training annually.
• Improve the practice’s recruitment procedure to ensure that appropriate checks are completed prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice. In particular, carrying out health assessments.