23 November 2016
During a routine inspection
We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 23 November 2016 due to information of concern 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
My Dentist – Stanhope Road - Deal dental practice provides NHS and private dental treatment options for patients. The practice is located in premises in a residential area of Deal, Kent.
The practice has four treatment rooms, one of which is on the ground floor.
The practice provides dental services to both adults and children. The practice provides NHS and private treatment. Services provided include general dentistry, dental hygiene, crowns and bridges, and root canal treatment. Patients also have the option of private treatment options such as implants on referral.
The practice’s opening hours are – Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm
Access for urgent treatment outside of opening hours is by telephoning the practice and following the instructions on the answerphone message or by telephoning the NHS dental access service.
The practice manager is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as a registered manager. 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.
The practice has three dentists; three qualified dental nurses, one student dental nurse, two dual role members of staff one receptionist/qualified nurse, one reception/decontamination operative and one receptionist , and a practice manager.
We did not provide CQC comment cards on this occasion as our inspection was unannounced. However we did review feedback that practice had received through surveys, comments and complaints.
Our key findings were:
• The practice was visibly clean and tidy.
• Records showed there were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Patients at the practice gave positive feedback about their experiences at the practice.
• The practice was well equipped.
• Dentists identified the different treatment options, and discussed these with patients.
• Patients’ confidentiality was maintained.
• The practice followed the relevant guidance from the Department of Health's: ‘Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM 01-05) for infection control with regard to cleaning and sterilising dental instruments.
• The practice had the necessary equipment for staff to deal with medical emergencies, and staff had been trained how to use that equipment. This included an automated external defibrillator, oxygen and emergency medicines.