Heswall 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 that had been implemented to ensure the practice was accessible to patients with a range of needs. For example, the practice provided step-free access, ground floor treatment rooms, a wheelchair-accessible toilet, hearing loop, large print and electronic information, translation services, and a range of communication aids. Additional features included a lowered reception desk, baby changing facilities, assistance dog access and an accessible communications folder.

Staff were clear about the importance of providing emotional support to patients when delivering care. Staff demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring patients felt comfortable, supported and involved in their care. They regularly checked patients’ comfort during treatment, used visual communication aids and adapted their communication to meet patients’ individual needs, and were attentive to non-verbal cues and body language. They described providing clear explanations about treatment and allowing patients time to ask questions, helping them feel safe, reassured and supported throughout their care.

The practice supported more vulnerable members of society, for example, patients living with dementia or adults and children with a learning disability. Staff described allowing extra appointment time, agreeing stop signals during treatment, providing ongoing reassurance and documenting individual preferences and reasonable adjustments within patient records.

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

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.

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.