Springfield Dental Clinic

We carried out this announced inspection on 19 November 2018 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

Springfield Dental Clinic is in Guiseley and provides private and NHS dental care for adults and children. It is also a training practice for foundation dentists.

Car parking is available near the practice and local transport facilities are nearby. There is limited access for people who use wheelchairs and patients with mobility difficulties due to steps to the waiting room and ground floor surgery area.

The dental team includes six dentists (two of whom are foundation dentists) two dental hygiene therapists, seven dental nurses (two of whom are trainees), a practice manager and three receptionists. The practice has four treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a company 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 Springfield Dental Clinic was the principal dentist.

On the day of inspection, we collected 38 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. All feedback received was highly positive.

During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, three dental nurses, 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 and, Wednesday 8am-5:30pm, Tuesday 8am-5:30pm, Thursday 9am-5:30pm, Friday 9am-4pm and Saturday(alternate) 9am-1pm.

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 broadly in line with national guidance.

• The practice overall had good systems to help them manage risk.
• The practice staff 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 practice was providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement,
• 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 staff dealt with any complaints positively and efficiently.
• The practice staff had suitable information governance arrangements.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Review the practice's Legionella risk assessment and implement any recommended actions, taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices, and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.’
• Review the practice’s sharps risk assessment to ensure it is in compliance with the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.
• Review the process to check equipment in the practice to manage medical emergencies taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council.
• Review the system to track and monitor NHS prescriptions and antibiotics at the practice.