Riverside Dental Surgery

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 25 April 2023 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 practice was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations.

The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector who was supported by a specialist dental advisor and a second CQC inspector.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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:

• The practice did not have infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and most life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had insufficient systems to manage risks for patients, staff, equipment and the premises. We found minor shortfalls in appropriately assessing and mitigating risks in relation to fire safety, hazardous waste management, Legionella and sharps management.
• Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The practice did not follow staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Staff took care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
• The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
• Staff felt involved, supported and worked as a team.Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.

Background

Riverside Dental Surgery is in Tamworth and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The practice is accessed via stairs meaning it is not accessible for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes 1 dentist, 2 dental nurses, and 1 receptionist. The practice has 3 treatment rooms but only 1 was in use at the time of inspection.

During the inspection we spoke with the dentist, 1 dental nurse and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday to Thursday from 8am to 6pm

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

Full details of the regulation the provider was not meeting are at the end of this report.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Implement an effective system for identifying, disposing, and replenishing of out-of-date stock.
• Take action to ensure the availability of an interpreter service for patients who do not speak English as their first language.