Updated 28 December 2017
We carried out this announced inspection on 8 December 2017 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 remotely supported by a specialist dental adviser.
We told the NHS England area team that we were inspecting the practice. They provided information which we took into account.
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
Aldershot Dental Centre is in Aldershot and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.
There is access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including patients with disabled badges, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes nine dentists, 14 dental nurses, three dental hygienists, one practice manager/dental nurse and five receptionists. The practice has six treatment rooms.
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 Aldershot dental Centre was the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection we collected 39 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with five other patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with four dentists, seven dental nurses, one dental hygienist, two receptionists 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 8am to 7pm, Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday 8am to 12:00 noon.
Our key findings were:
- The practice was clean and well maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
- The practice 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.
- The appointment system met patients’ needs.
- The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the current staffing arrangements to ensure all dental care professionals are adequately supported by a trained member of the dental team when treating patients in a dental setting taking into account the guidance issued by the General Dental Council.
- Review the practice's policy and the storage of products identified under Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 2002 Regulations to ensure a risk assessment is undertaken and the products are stored securely.
- Review the security of prescription pads in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor their use.