Updated 21 September 2022
We carried out this announced focussed inspection on 6 December 2021 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 Care Quality Commission, (CQC), inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we asked the following three questions:
• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• 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 this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services effective?
We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Youngs Dental Practice is in Snaith and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children. Treatments include dental implants and conscious sedation.
There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.
The dental team includes three dentists, a peripatetic sedationist, a dental nurse, a locum dental hygienist and therapist, a compliance manager and a practice manager. The practice has three treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by a partnership and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC as the registered manager. Registered managers 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 registered manager at Youngs Dental Practice is the principal dentist.
During the inspection we spoke with one dentist and the practice manager (who is also a dental nurse). We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 5pm
Wednesday from 10am to 7pm
Friday from 9am to 3pm
Every other Saturday from 9am to 12:30pm
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Not all emergency medicines were available on the day of inspection. These were ordered immediately, and evidence sent after the inspection.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation. Improvements could be made to the process for obtaining Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.
- The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider had information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Take action to ensure the availability of medicines in the practice to manage medical emergencies taking into account the guidelines issued by the British National Formulary and the General Dental Council.
- Implement an effective recruitment procedure to ensure that appropriate checks are completed prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice.
- Improve the practice's protocols for medicines management and ensure all medicine labels are complaint with the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.