Updated 1 June 2017
Background
Crofts Dental Practice is located in Epping and provides private treatment to patients of all ages. The premises are on the ground floor and consist of two treatment rooms, a reception area and a decontamination room. The practice is open on Monday 9:00am to 5:00pm, Tuesday 9:00am to 3:00pm, Wednesday and Friday 8:45am to 6:00pm, Thursday 10:30am to 7:00pm and Saturday 8:30am to 3:00pm.
The dental team includes the principal dentist, two associate dentists, a dental hygienist, a dental hygienist/therapist, a dental nurse, a trainee dental nurse and the receptionist.
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 principal dentist is the registered manager at Crofts Dental Practice.
On the day of inspection we collected 47 CQC comment cards filled in by patients, spoke with two patients and reviewed the practice patient satisfaction survey. Patients were positive about the service. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the staff.
During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, the two dental nurses and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
Our key findings were:
- The practice was clean and well maintained.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
- Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
- Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
- We found the dentists regularly assessed each patient’s gum health and took X-rays at appropriate intervals.
- Patients were involved in their care and treatment planning so they could make informed decisions.
- There were effective processes in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.
- The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and child protection.
- Equipment, such as the autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.
- The practice had implemented clear procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.
- Patients said that they found the team to be efficient, professional, caring and reassuring.
- Patients had good access to appointments, including emergency appointments, which were available on the same day.
- Effective leadership structures were in place and there were processes in place for dissemination of information and feedback to staff.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:
- Review the current staffing arrangements to ensure all dental care professionals are adequately supported by a trained member of the dental team when treating patients.
- Review availability of medicines to manage medical emergencies giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK), and the General Dental Council (GDC) standards for the dental team.