Archived: Merrifield Dental Practice

We carried out this announced inspection on 18 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 and a second specialist dental advisor observer.

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

Merrifield Dental Practice is in Sidmouth and provides private treatment to mainly adults.

There are two ground floor surgeries, with a step access from the road. Parking for disabled patients is available at the rear of the practice, with level access from a rear surgery entrance. Other car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes two dentists, five dental nurses, two dental hygienists, a receptionist and a practice administrator. 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 Care Quality Commission 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 Merrifield Dental Practice is the principal dentist.

On the day of inspection, we collected 40 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. We also received 20 on-line responses directly to CQC from patients. This gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, one dental nurse, an administrator and the practice administrator. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Mon – Weds 8.45am – 5.15pm. Thu 8.45am – 2pm. Fri 8.45am – 1pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• 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 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’.

• Review the practice’s protocols and procedures for promoting the maintenance of good oral health, taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health publication ‘Delivering Better Oral Health: An Evidence-Based Toolkit For Prevention’.
• Review the practice's protocols for completion of dental care records, taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.
• Introduce protocols regarding the prescribing of antibiotic medicines and antibiotic stewardship, taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.