Crescent Dental Clinic

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 24 October 2022 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 adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we ask five key 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 practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures in place. Improvements were needed to decontamination equipment validation and legionella water temperature testing.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate emergency equipment and medicines were available.
• The practice 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.
• 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 took account of patients’ needs.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• There was a system in place to ensure complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.

Background

Crescent Dental Clinic is in Harrogate and provides private dental care for adults and children.

There dental clinic is in on the first floor and cannot provide disabled access. Car parking and local transport are available near the practice.

The dental team includes 1 dentist and 1 dental nurse. The practice has 1 treatment room.

During the inspection we spoke with all staff. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Mondays from 9am to 6pm

Tuesdays from 9am to 5pm

Wednesdays from 9am to 6pm

Fridays from 9am to 5pm

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 the frequency testing of the autoclave and ultrasonic equipment.

• Take action to implement any recommendations in the practice's Legionella risk assessment, in particular increase the frequency of water temperature checks to monthly, in line with current guidance.