Updated 26 June 2017
Background
Titchfield Dental Health is in Southampton and provides and private treatment to patients of all ages.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including for patients with disabled badges, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes four dentists, one senior dental nurse, three dental nurses, one apprentice dental nurse, one trainee dental nurse, one oral health educator, two dental hygienists, one practice manager, one reception manager, two receptionists, one receptionist /nurse, and two cleaners. The practice has three treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by a principal dentist 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 Titchfield dental Health was the practice manager.
On the day of inspection we collected 33 CQC comment cards filled in by patients, we also received 48 direct responses to CQC about the practice and spoke with five other patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, one senior dental nurse, one dental nurse, one apprentice dental nurse, one trainee dental nurse, one oral health educator, two dental hygienists, one practice manager, one reception manager, one receptionist and one receptionist /nurse. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday and Wednesday 08:30 am to 7pm, Tuesday 9am to 7pm, Thursday 9am to 5pm and Friday 08:30am to 5pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice was clean and well maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
- The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
- 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.
- The appointment system met patients’ needs.
- The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the practice's protocols for monitoring and recording the fridge temperature to ensure that medicines and dental care products are being stored in line with the manufacturer’s guidance.
- Review staff awareness of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and ensure all staff are aware of their responsibilities under the Act as it relates to their role.
- Review its responsibilities as regards the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and ensure all documentation is up to date and staff understand how to minimise risks associated with the use and handling of these substances.
- Review availability of medicines and equipment to manage medical emergencies taking into account guidelines issued by the British National Formulary, the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council (GDC) standards for the dental team.