• Dentist
  • Dentist

Bexley Dental Practice

8 Vicarage Road, Bexley, Kent, DA5 2AL (01322) 555858

Provided and run by:
Dr Brakashini Thuraisundaram

All Inspections

14 September 2021

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out this announced inspection on 14 September 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 usually ask five key questions, however due to the ongoing pandemic and to reduce time spent on site, only the following three questions were asked:

• 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

Bexley Dental Practice is in the London borough of Bexley and provides mainly private dental care care and treatment for adults and children. The practice has a small NHS contract for children and exempt adults.

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. The practice has a car park for patients and there are local transport links close to the practice.

The dental team includes a principal dentist and two dental nurses. The dental nurses also provide reception duties. The practice has one treatment room.

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.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist and one of the dental nurses. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

8.30am – 5.30pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays.

Our key findings were:

  • The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
  • The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
  • 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 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 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 dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
  • The provider had information governance arrangements.

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

  • Implement an effective system of checks of medical emergency equipment and medicines taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council.

27 November 2013

During a routine inspection

All the people we spoke with were complimentary about the service. One person told us 'if I was not happy I wouldn't be here'. Another person said staff were 'friendly' and made them comfortable when they were anxious. People told us that the dentist provided them with information and choice, and that their preferred choices were respected. People said their privacy and dignity was maintained and they felt the surgery was visibly clean.

We found that people were given information to allow them make informed decisions about their treatment. People who use the service had a care plan and were involved in planning their care. The provider had policies and procedures in place to safeguard children and vulnerable adults and staff knew about their responsibility to identify and report abuse. We found the provider followed relevant infection control protocols including appropriate processes for the decontamination of instruments. We found that the provider maintained appropriate records of people's treatment plans, staff records and other records such as policies and procedures relevant for the management of the surgery were fit for purpose.