Updated 4 December 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 11 November 2019 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 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 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
Wakefield Road Dental Surgery is in Bradford and provides NHS and private dental treatment to adults and children.
There is a small step to access the premises which limits accessibility for wheelchair users of those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.
The dental team includes six dentists, nine dental nurses (four of whom are trainees), two receptionists and a practice manager. The practice has six treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by an individual who is one of the principal dentists there. They 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 collected 25 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.
During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, one dental nurse, one receptionist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 1.pm and 2pm to 5pm
Friday from 8:30am to 1pm
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared 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. Improvements could be made to the process for checking the fire alarm and emergency lighting.
- The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
- 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 provider had effective leadership. Minor improvements could be made to the quality assurance processes.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The provider asked patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Take action to ensure ongoing fire safety management is effective.
- Take action to ensure audits of radiography are dentist specific.
- Take action to ensure re-usable instruments are bagged after sterilisation.