Mydentist - Headlands - Kettering

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 15 February 2024 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 practice was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations.

The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector who was supported by a specialist dental advisor.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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:

• The dental clinic appeared clean and well-maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Staff took care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
• The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
• Staff felt involved, supported and worked as a team.
• Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
• Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
• The practice had information governance arrangements
• The practice had experienced a period of instability in relation to recruitment and leadership. At the time of inspection there was effective leadership in place and a culture of continuous improvement.
• The practice had systems to manage risks for patients, staff, equipment and the premises. There was scope for improvement in relation to receiving and responding to patient safety alerts.

Background

MyDentist – Headlands - Kettering is part of Mydentist a dental group provider. The practice is in Kettering and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is step free access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, are available near the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with access requirements.

The dental team includes 6 dentists, 2 qualified dental nurses, 2 dental hygienists, 1 trainee dental nurse, 1 practice manager and 2 receptionists. The practice was supported by an area manager, a clinical director, regulatory officer and a clinical development manager.

The practice has 7 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 1 dentist, 2 dental nurses, 3 receptionists, an interim practice manager and the regulatory officer. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm.

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

• Implement an effective system for receiving and responding to patient safety alerts, recalls and rapid response reports issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the Central Alerting System and other relevant bodies, such as the UK Health Security Agency.