Updated 9 April 2020
We carried out this announced inspection on 11 March 2020 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 Care Quality Commission, (CQC), inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
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 this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services effective?
We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services caring?
We found this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services responsive?
We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
J M Dentalcare is in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
There is ramped access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Dedicated parking for people with disabilities is available in pay and display car parks near the practice. Parking is also available on local side roads.
The dental team includes three dentists, four dental nurses, two dental hygienists, two dental hygiene therapists, a treatment co-ordinator, a practice co-ordinator, a practice manager and three receptionists. The practice has five treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC 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 JM Dentalcare is the practice manager.
On the day of inspection, we collected six CQC comment cards filled in by patients.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, the lead dental nurse, two dental hygiene therapists, one receptionist, the practice co-ordinator and the practice manager who are both also dental nurses. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday and Thursday from 8am to 8pm, Tuesday and Friday from 8am to 5pm and Wednesday from 7am to 4pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
- Patients were positive about all aspects of the service the practice provided and spoke highly of the treatment they received, and of the staff who delivered it.
- 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.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs. The practice provided extended opening hours early morning and late evening and were accommodating to patients’ needs at other times.
- The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement. Monitoring systems were in place to ensure staff kept up to date with training.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider had systems in place to deal with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The provider had information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Improve the practice's waste handling protocols to ensure waste is segregated and disposed of in compliance with the relevant regulations, and taking into account the guidance issued in the Health Technical Memorandum 07-01.
- Improve staff awareness of their responsibilities in relation to the duty of candour to ensure compliance with The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.