Updated 26 July 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 25 June 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 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
Dental Practice - Manchester Road is in Altrincham and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children. It is known locally as Altrincham Dental Practice.
Access is not possible for people who use wheelchairs. This is made known to patients when they contact the practice. On street parking is available near the practice.
The dental team includes three dentists, six dental nurses, a part time dental hygiene therapist and a receptionist. The practice has four treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.
On the day of inspection, we collected 30 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. Patients were positive about all aspects of the service the practice provided.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, dental nurses, the dental hygiene therapist and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Thursday 8.45am to 5.15pm
Friday 8.45am to 1pm
Our key findings were:
- The premises were clean and well maintained.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance. Validation of the decontamination processes could be improved.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The practice had systems to help them identify and manage risks to patients and staff. Fire safety risks could be more thoroughly assessed and managed.
- The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- 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 were providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- The provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked well 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 suitable information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the practice's recruitment procedures to ensure that appropriate checks are completed prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice.
- Review 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, the validation of equipment and audit processes).
- Review the fire safety risk assessment and ensure that any actions required are complete and ongoing fire safety management is effective.
- Review the practice's policy 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.