High Green Dental Practice

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 19 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 dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment,

we always ask the following 5 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 dental clinic appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and staff took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
• Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
• The dental clinic had information governance arrangements.

Background

The provider has 65 practices and this report is about High Green Dental Practice.

High Green Dental Practice is in Sheffield and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children. The practice is a foundation training practice. New graduates work in approved practices and are mentored by General Dental Practitioners who are selected and appointed as educational supervisors.

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes 9 dentists (including a foundation dentist), 12 dental nurses (including 3 trainees), 1 foundation dental hygiene therapist, a practice manager and 2 receptionists. The practice has 8 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 3 dentists including the foundation dentist, and an educational supervisor, 4 dental nurses, a receptionist, the practice manager and the 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 Friday 9am to 5.30pm

Saturday 9am to 1pm by appointment only via the NHS 111 service

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

• Take action to ensure audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.

• Improve the processes for private prescriptions pads in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor their use.

• Implement protocols for domiciliary visits taking into account the 2009 guidelines published by British Society for Disability and Oral Health in the document “Guidelines for the Delivery of a Domiciliary Oral Healthcare Service”.