Hookstone Dental Care

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 10 October 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 practice 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 ask five key 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:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance, we noted that some items needed discarding.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies.
• 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 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 had information governance arrangements.

Background

Hookstone Dental Care is in Harrogate and provides private dental care for adults and children. The service offers dental implants.

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available on the road near the practice.

The dental team includes 4 dentists, 1 dental hygienist, 3 dental nurses and receptionist. The practice has 3 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist and 2 dental nurses. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Thursday 8:15am to 5pm and Friday 8:15am to 2pm.

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

• Take action to ensure that all clinical staff have adequate immunity for vaccine preventable infectious diseases and ensure risk assessments are in place where immunity has not been reached.