Archived: Family Dental Care - Park Road Bingley

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 21 September 2016 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

This practice provides mainly NHS with some private treatment to patients of all ages in the Bingley area and beyond.

The dental practice is based in the centre of Bingley. The practice is situated on the first floor of a multi-use building. The practice has two treatment rooms, waiting/ reception area, a decontamination room and toilet facilities. The dentist cannot accommodate patients with restrictive mobility. There are alternative dentists in the Bingley area who have disabled access. There is parking available in the town centre of Bingley and the premises are adjacent to the railway station and local bus routes.

The practice has a principal dentist, two associate dentists, a hygienist and four dental nurses/reception staff.

The practice is open Monday-Thursday 8:30am -5:30pm and Friday from 9.00am - 4.30pm.

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.

Before the inspection we sent CQC comment cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice. We received feedback from 17 patients which all gave positive comments about the care and treatment received at the practice. They told us they could access appointments and emergency care easily and that staff were caring and sensitive to their needs.

Our key findings were:

• The premises were visibly clean and free from clutter.
• An infection prevention and control policy was in place and sterilisation procedures followed recommended guidance.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and trained staff to meet the needs of patients.
• All staff were welcoming and friendly.
• The practice had systems to assess and manage risks to patients, including infection prevention and control and health and safety.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• We observed that patients were treated with kindness and respect by staff.
• Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed.
• The practice had a complaints system in place and there was an openness and transparency in how these were dealt with.
• There were clearly defined leadership roles within the practice and staff told us that they felt supported, appreciated and comfortable to raise concerns or make suggestions.

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

• Review the appraisal system for all staff working at the practice.
• Review the frequency of practice meetings and the recording of minutes to ensure that staff have regular access to meetings and those staff unable to attend can have access to information.
• Review the storage and safety of the medication held in the fridge.