Updated 11 July 2017
Background
Portsea Dental Care is in Portsmouth and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including parking for patients with disabled badges, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes one dentist, three trainee dental nurses, one dental hygienist, one practice manager and three receptionists. The practice has two treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission 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 Portsea Dental Care was the practice manager.
On the day of inspection we collected 40 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with 4 other patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, two trainee dental nurses, one practice manager, two receptionists and one company area manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday to Wednesday 8:30am to 5:30pm, Thursday 8:30am to 7pm and Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm
Our key findings were:
- The practice was clean and well maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
- The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
- 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 met patients’ needs.
- The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review its responsibilities as regards the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and ensure all documentation is up to date and staff understand how to minimise risks associated with the use and handling of these substances.
- Review the current performance review systems in place and have an effective process established for the on-going assessment and supervision of all staff.
- Review the practice's current audit protocols to ensure audits of key aspects of service delivery are undertaken at regular intervals and where applicable learning points are documented and shared with all relevant staff.
- Review the practice's protocols for completion of dental care records taking into account guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice regarding antibiotic prophylaxis and periodontal examinations.