Updated 29 November 2021
We carried out this announced focused inspection on 25 October 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 two specialist dental advisers.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we asked the following three questions:
• 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
St Mawes Dental is in St Mawes and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
The practice is accessed from the high street. There is one step to access to premises. Treatment rooms are on the ground floor. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes one dentist and two dental nurses. 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 CQC 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 St Mawes Dental is the principal dentist.
During the inspection we spoke with the dentist and two dental nurses. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday. 9am – 4.30pm
Tuesday. 9am – 3pm
Wednesday. 9am – 3pm
Thursday. 9am – 4pm
Friday. By prior arrangement only.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared to be visibly clean.
- Facilities were in the process of being improved.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment was made 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 treated patients with dignity and respect and 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.
- 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 had information governance arrangements.
There was an area 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, by ensuring aerosol generating procedures take place in a suitable treatment room.