The Limes Dental Practice

We carried out this announced inspection on 29 November 2022 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 Care Quality Commission, (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 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 caring?

We found this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found this practice was providing responsive 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 Limes Dental Practice is in Gloucester, Gloucestershire and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available directly in front of the practice and in the surrounding streets nearby.

The dental team includes 2 dentists, 3 qualified dental nurses, an occasional dental nurse sourced through a locum recruitment agency, 2 dental hygienists and a practice manager who also undertakes receptionist duties.

The practice has 4 treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC 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 Limes Dental Practice is the principal dentist Dr Andrew Connolly.

During the inspection we spoke with the practice manager, 2 dentists, 3 qualified dental nurses, and a dental hygienist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed, and spoke with a patient about their experiences using the service.

The practice is open at the following times:

8.30 – 17.00 Mondays to Wednesdays

8.30 – 18.30 Thursdays

8.30 – 12.30 Fridays

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.