We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 2 September 2015 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?
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 not providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations
Background
Indigo Little Dental Practice is located in the London Borough of Wandsworth and provides private dental services.
The practice team included the principal dentist, two specialist dental practitioners, two dental hygienists, two dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse and a receptionist/practice manager. On the day of the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, a dental nurse, dental hygienist and practice manager.
We reviewed 13 Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards completed by patients. We spoke with two patients on the day of the inspection. The feedback from the patients who completed the CQC comment cards was positive in relation to the care they received from the practice. They commented that staff were caring and respectful.
Our key findings were:
- Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
- Patients were able to make routine appointments and emergency appointments when needed.
- The patient comment cards we reviewed indicated that patients were consistently treated with kindness and respect by staff.
- The principal dentist ensured consent was obtained before providing treatment
- Staff told us they were well supported by the principal dentist.
- Staff recruitment files were not being stored securely. Staff meetings had not been formalised
- The emergency drug kit did not contain all of the equipment recommended in current guidelines
We identified regulations that were not being met and the provider must:
- Establish an effective system to assess, monitor and mitigate the risks arising from undertaking of the regulated activities.
You can see full details of the regulations not being met at the end of this report.
There were also areas where the provider could make improvements and should:
- Review its systems to seek and act on patient feedback.
- Review availability of equipment to manage medical emergencies giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK), and the General Dental Council (GDC) standards for the dental team.
- Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’ especially in regard to use of saline during oral surgery.