The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Valleybridge Dental Practice

4 Cambridge Terrace, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 2LQ (01723) 362020

Provided and run by:
Mr. Andrew Tannahill

All Inspections

18 May 2023

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced inspection on 18 May 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.

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 dental clinic appeared clean and well-maintained.
  • The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
  • Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
  • The practice had systems to manage risks for patients, staff, equipment and the premises.
  • Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
  • The practice had 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.
  • There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Staff felt involved, supported and worked as a team.
  • Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
  • Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
  • The practice had information governance arrangements.

Background

Valley Bridge Dental Practice is in Scarborough and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is step free access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces (disc only parking) are available near the practice and local transport links are nearby. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with access requirements.

The dental team includes 2 dentists, 5 dental nurses, 1 dental hygienist and 1 practice managers. The practice has 4 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 2 dentists, 2 dental nurses and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5pm.

20 October 2015

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 20 October 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 providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Background

Valley Bridge Dental Practice is situated in Scarborough, North Yorkshire and is a partnership. The practice offers a mix of NHS and private dental treatments. The services include preventative advice, routine restorative dental care and dental implants.

The practice has four surgeries, a decontamination room, a reception area and a waiting room. Toilets are available on both floors.

There are three dentists, one hygienist, six dental nurses and a practice manager.

The layout of the practice is on two floors where two surgeries are located on the ground floor and two surgeries are on the first floor along with the decontamination room.

The practice is open:

Monday – Friday 08:30 – 17:00

One of the practice owners 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.

On the day of inspection we received 28 CQC Care Quality Commission comment cards providing feedback and spoke to three patients. The patients who provided feedback were positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice. They told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be excellent, efficient, caring and they were treated with dignity and respect in a clean and tidy environment.

Our key findings were:

  • There was a complaints system in place. Staff recorded complaints and cascaded learning to staff.
  • Staff had received safeguarding training, 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.
  • Staff had been trained to manage medical emergencies.
  • Infection control procedures were in accordance with the published guidelines.
  • Patient care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current regulations.
  • Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
  • Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
  • The appointment system met patients’ needs.
  • The governance systems were effective.
  • The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided.

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

  • Implement a policy for lone working.

23 January 2012

During a routine inspection

We spoke to people in private at the practice address. Everyone we spoke to said that

they were treated with respect. They said they signed to say they agreed with the

treatment and that they had their treatment options explained to them so that they could

make an informed decision about dental care and treatment. Everyone spoken to said they received good dental care and treatment. One person said the dentist had explained to her about crowns and she was confident to make a decision about treatment following this. People said they considered the surgery and reception area to be clean and hygienic.

We looked at patient surveys and there was no evidence that anyone had recorded a

concern about this. People said that the dentist had considered their safety and they felt protected from abuse of any kind.