Ferndale House Dental Practice

On this page

• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes
• Planning for the future

We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations and had taken into consideration appropriate guidance.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Person-centred Care is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Care provision, Integration and continuity is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Providing Information is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Listening to and involving people is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

Staff had carried out a disability access audit and had an action plan to continually improve access for patients.

Staff described the reasonable adjustments they had made to ensure the practice was accessible. The practice had access to large print and alternative formats of information and reading glasses to support patients with impaired vision. The practice had a hearing induction loop to support patients with a hearing impairment. The practice was wheelchair accessible with step-free access and ground floor treatment rooms. Staff had access to language translation services, including British Sign Language and information was available in other languages as required.

Staff were clear about the importance of providing emotional support to patients when delivering care.

The practice supported more vulnerable members of society, for example, patients living with dementia or adults and children with a learning disability. For example, familiarisation visits were offered, along with appointment times and clinicians that best met the patient’s needs. Treatment rooms offered a range of calming and distraction options including, music, light displays, television and adjustable light levels. Many patient reviews mentioned this with one person commenting to us, ‘I have been a patient at Ferndale House for years and my family. The staff are always very friendly, helpful and efficient. They have been very understanding where my (relative) is concerned who is very nervous and have done everything in their power to accommodate them. The surroundings are clean and comfortable. I would recommend this practice to my friends and family no problem.’

The practice displayed its opening hours and provided information on their website, patient information leaflet and social media pages.

The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

The practice provided telephone numbers for patients needing emergency dental treatment during the working day and when the practice was not open.

At the time of our inspection, patients who needed an urgent appointment were offered one in a timely manner. When the practice was unable to offer an urgent appointment, they worked with partner organisations to support urgent access for patients.

The judgement for Equity in experiences and outcomes is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Planning for the future is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.