Caring Dentistry

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 24 February 2017 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 providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Graham Porter Caring Dentistry is located in Cottingham, Humberside and provides private treatment to adults and children.

Wheelchair users or pushchairs can access the practice through step free access. Car parking spaces are available at the front of the practice.

The dental team is comprised of three dentists, three dental nurses, a dental hygienist and two receptionists.

On the day of inspection we received positive feedback from 25 patients. They told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to provide exemplary care; staff were attentive, communicated well and helped patients relax. Patients commented they could access emergency care easily and they were treated with dignity and respect in a clean and tidy environment.

The practice is open:

Monday – Friday 9am-5pm.

The principal dentist is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• Infection control procedures were robust and the practice followed published guidance.
• Staff had been trained to handle emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were readily available in accordance with current guidelines.
• The practice had systems in place manage risks.
• Staff understood and received safeguarding training and knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report it.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Safe recruitment of staff was in place.
• Treatment was well planned and provided in line with current guidelines.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The service was aware of the needs of the local population and took these into account in how the practice was run
• The practice was well-led and staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided.
• Complaints were responded to in an efficient and responsive manor.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review the practice’s arrangements for receiving and responding to patient safety alerts, recalls and rapid response reports issued from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and through the Central Alerting System (CAS), as well as from other relevant bodies such as, Public Health England (PHE).
• Review the practice policy and accessibility to translation services.