Fryern Dental Practice

We carried out this announced inspection on 17 January 2019 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

Fryern Dental Practice is in Chandler’s Ford and provides NHS and 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, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes four dentists, one lead dental nurse, three dental nurses, one dental hygienist, one surgery assistant, three receptionists and the practice manager. The practice has four 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 Fryern dental practice is the practice manager

On the day of inspection, we collected 21 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with three other patients.

During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, three dental nurses, one surgery assistant, two receptionists and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

• Monday 8am to 5pm
• Tuesday 9am to 5pm
• Wednesday 8am to 5pm
• Thursday 9am to 5pm
• Friday 8am to 3pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained. 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 should make available an interpreter service.
• Improvements should be made to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 file to ensure the safe use of materials.
• Improvements should be made to infection control procedures to reflect published guidance.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Improve the practice processes for the control and storage of substances hazardous to health identified by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, to ensure risk assessments are undertaken and the substances are stored securely.

• Improve the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols 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’ in particular ventilation, introduce a dedicated handwash sink, workspace, and to consider automated cleaning.

• Take action to ensure the availability of an interpreter service for patients who do not speak English as their first language.

• Improve and develop staff awareness of Sepsis and ensure all staff are aware of guidance provided by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NG51) 2016.