Updated 1 November 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 10 October 2019 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. The inspection was announced 48 hours prior to the visit. 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 CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser and a second CQC inspector.
We undertook an inspection in response to concerns received.
We asked the following two questions:
• Is it safe?
• Is it well-led?
These questions form part of the framework for the areas we look at during a comprehensive inspection.
Our findings were:
Are services safe?
We found that this practice was providing safe 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
M Verma & S Verma Abacus Dental Care is in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and provides both NHS and private treatment to adults and children.
The practice is located in a two storey building within a residential area of Milton Keynes. There is level access into the building for people who use wheelchairs or those with pushchairs. Treatment rooms are on both the ground and first floor of the building. Car parking is available in a public car park behind the practice.
The dental team includes two dentists, one hygienist and three dental nurses, including one trainee, who share reception duties. The practice has three treatment rooms and a designated decontamination room.
The practice is owned by a partnership 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 M Verma & S Verma Abacus Dental Care is the principal dentist.
During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, the hygienist, a dental nurse and a trainee dental nurse. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8.30am to 5pm, Tuesday from 6pm to 8pm, Friday from 8.30am to 4pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
- The provider had detailed infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and most pieces of life-saving equipment were available. The emergency kit was missing certain sizes of clear face masks. When we raised this with the practice they immediately ordered the missing sizes to be delivered the next working day.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had thorough staff recruitment procedures. There was a comprehensive induction process in place for new members of the team.
- The provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement. Staff were actively engaged in the improvement and development of the practice.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team. Staff spoke openly about how much they enjoyed working at the practice.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided. Positive patient feedback was displayed around the practice.
- The provider had thorough information governance arrangements.