Updated 16 March 2020
We carried out this announced inspection on 11 February 2020 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 CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:
• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• Is it caring?
• Is it responsive to people’s needs?
• 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 that this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services effective?
We found that this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services caring?
We found that this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services responsive?
We found that this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services well-led?
We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Elegance Dental Surgery is a well-established practice that offers private treatment to approximately 3,000 patients. The dental team includes two dentists, four dental nurses, a hygienist and a practice manager.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. There is a dedicated parking space for patients with limited mobility just outside the practice.
The practice is open Monday to Thursday from 8am to 5pm., and on Fridays from 8am to 4pm. It also opens about two Saturdays a month by appointment only.
The practice is owned by a company 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 the practice is the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection, we collected 23 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. We spoke with the practice manager, two dentists and two dental nurses. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
Our key findings were:
- Patients were positive about all aspects of the service the practice provided and commented positively on the treatment they received, and of the staff who delivered it.
- Premises and equipment were clean and properly maintained and the practice followed national guidance for cleaning, sterilising and storing dental instruments.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- Patients’ care and treatment was provided in line with current guidelines.
- The practice had effective leadership and staff worked well as a team. Staff felt respected, supported and valued.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Improve the practice's protocols for medicines management and ensure all medicines are accounted for and dispensed to patients within national guidelines.