Updated 28 September 2020
We undertook a follow up focused inspection of Grace Dental Care -Windlestone Road on 16 September 2020. 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 carried out partly remotely by reviewing documents sent by the provider and a site visit.
The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
We undertook a comprehensive inspection of Grace Dental Care -Windlestone Road on 9 September 2019 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, responsive or well led care and was in breach of Regulations 12, 15, 16, 17 and 18 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 Grace Dental Care - Windlestone Road on our website.
As part of this inspection we asked:
•Is it safe?
•Is it responsive to people’s needs?
•Is it well-led?
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.
Our findings were:
Are services safe?
We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breaches we found at our inspection on 9 September 2019.
Are services responsive?
We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breaches we found at our inspection on 9 September 2019.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breaches we found at our inspection on 9 September 2019.
Background
Grace Dental Care - Windlestone Road is in Billingham and provides NHS and private treatment for adults and children.
The premises are not accessible for people who use wheelchairs. Wheelchair users can be seen at the provider’s sister practice. On street parking is available near the practice.
The dental team includes three dentists, two dental nurses, and two receptionists. The practice has two treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by a partnership and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission 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 Grace Dental Care - Windlestone Road is one of the partners.
During the inspection we spoke with one 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 to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Our key findings were :
- The risks associated with the carrying out of the regulated activities had been addressed. These included the risks associated with fire and the use of radiation.
- Equipment including gas and electrical systems were maintained appropriately and in line with the relevant legislation.
- The complaints procedure had been reviewed.
- Systems and processes had been implemented to ensure good governance is supported in the long term.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Take action to implement any recommendations in the practice's Legionella risk assessment, 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.
- Take action to ensure the availability of equipment in the practice to manage medical emergencies taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council.