Updated 9 March 2022
We undertook an unannounced follow up focused inspection of The Dental Surgery Partnership on 25 February 2022. This inspection was carried out to review in detail the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.
The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
We undertook a comprehensive inspection of The Dental Surgery Partnership on 20 October 2021 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions.
We found the registered provider was not providing safe, effective or well led care and was in breach of regulations 12, 15, 17, 18 and 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for The Dental Surgery Partnership dental practice on our website www.cqc.org.uk
When one or more of the five questions are not met we require the service to make improvements and send us an action plan. We then inspect again after a reasonable interval, focusing on the areas where improvement was required.
As part of this inspection we asked:
• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• Is it well-led?
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
The Dental Surgery Partnership (trading as South Cliff Dental Group) is in Brighton and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
The two practice treatment rooms are based on the first floor which is not accessible to people who find stairs a barrier. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.
The dental team includes one dental hygiene therapist, one trainee dental nurse, a receptionist and the practice manager.
During the inspection we spoke with the practice manager, compliance manager, compliance director, company owner (the provider), dental hygiene therapist, receptionist, trainee dental nurse and a freelance nurse who was working at the practice on the day of our visit.
NHS England were also undertaking their own inspection of the practice while we were there.
The practice is open:
- Monday to Saturday 8.30am – 5.30pm
The practice closes for lunch between 1.00pm and 2.00pm daily.
The hygiene therapist was the only clinician working at the practice . They normally worked on Fridays. The other days the practice did not see patients. We were told this was due to staff shortages. Patients who contacted the practice were asked to call the provider’s other dental practice nearby.
Our key findings were:
- The practice ensured that systems and processes were operated to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
- The practice ensured that persons employed in the provision of the regulated activity received the appropriate support, training, professional development, supervision and appraisal necessary to enable them to carry out the duties.
- The practice ensured recruitment procedures were established and operated effectively to ensure only fit and proper persons were employed and specified information was available regarding each person employed.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the systems for checking and monitoring emergency fire equipment taking into account national fire safety guidance.