Updated 15 March 2022
We carried out this announced focussed inspection on 3 December 2021 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 asked the following three questions:
• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• 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 not 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 well-led?
We found this practice was not providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Pearl Smile Oldham Limited is in Failsworth, Manchester 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 are available near the practice.
The dental team includes three dentists, three dental nurses, a receptionist and a practice manager. The practice has two 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 Pearl Smile Oldham Limited is the principal dentist.
During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, one dental nurse 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 to Thursday from 9am to 5:30pm
Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared to be visibly clean.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Emergency medicines and equipment were not available as described in nationally recognised guidance.
- The risks associated with fire and substances which are hazardous to health were not being appropriately managed.
- The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- Not all staff had been subject to a up to date Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
- The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:
- Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.
- Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
Full details of the regulations the provider was not meeting are at the end of this report.