Archived: Dunluce Dental Practice - Blackpool

We carried out a comprehensive inspection on 24 January 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

Dunluce Dental Practice is first opened in 1992 and is located in the south shore area of Blackpool.

The practice has two surgeries, a reception area and the patient toilet on the ground floor of the premises. There is a further surgery on the first floor. The decontamination room is based on the ground floor where access is restricted to staff only. The practice was accessible to people with disabilities and impaired mobility.

There is one principal dentist who is supported by a foundation dentist, two part time dental hygienists, three qualified dental nurses, a trainee dental nurse and a practice manager who is also a qualified dental nurse.

The opening hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9.00am to 7.00pm The practice closes at 5.30pm on a Tuesday and 1.30pm on a Friday. Appointments are available for people who receive private funded care on the first Saturday of every month between 8.30am and 12.30pm. The practice close for lunch between 1 pm – 2pm every day.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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.

We reviewed 37 CQC comment cards on the day of our visit; patients were extremely positive about the staff and the standard of care provided by the practice. Patients commented they felt involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be helpful, respectful, friendly and were treated in a clean and tidy environment.

Our key findings were:

• The premises were visibly clean and tidy.
• The practice had procedures in place to record and analyse significant events and incidents.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, and knew the process to follow to raise concerns.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, skilled staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies, and emergency medicines and equipment were available.
• Patients’ needs were assessed, and care and treatment were delivered, in accordance with current legislation, standards, and guidance.
• Patients received information about their care, proposed treatment, costs, benefits, and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Staff were supported to deliver effective care, and opportunities for training and learning were available.
• Patients were treated with kindness, dignity, and respect.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients, and emergency appointments were available.
• Services were planned and delivered to meet the needs of patients, and reasonable adjustments were made to enable patients to receive their care and treatment.
• The practice gathered the views of patients and took their views into account.
• Staff were supervised, felt involved, and worked as a team.
• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice, and for the delivery of high quality person centred care.

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

• Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’. This includes the undertaking of high level cleaning.

• Review the system to assess, monitor and mitigate the various risks arising from undertaking of the regulated activities. This includes the monitoring of fire safety and water temperature checks in line with published guidance.

• Review the protocol for completing accurate, complete and detailed records relating to employment of staff. This includes making appropriate notes of verbal reference taken and ensuring recruitment checks, including references, are suitably obtained and recorded.