Updated 1 April 2020
We carried out this announced inspection on 28 February 2020 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 Care Quality Commission, (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 this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services effective?
We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services caring?
We found this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services responsive?
We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Mydentist - Stafford Park 1 – Telford is in Telford in Shropshire, it provides NHS and private dental treatment to adults and children.
There is level access into the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. The practice has a small on-site car park, or there are car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities available near the practice.
The dental team includes six dentists, two hygiene therapists, five dental nurses, including two trainee dental nurses, three receptionists and the practice manager. The practice has six treatment rooms, all of which are located on the ground floor. The practice has centralised decontamination facilities.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC 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. At the time of inspection there was no registered manager in post as required as a condition of registration. A registered manager is legally responsible for the delivery of services for which the practice is registered. The practice manager had applied to be the registered manager and was waiting for an interview date from the Care Quality Commission to complete the process.
On the day of inspection, we collected 43 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. Feedback received about the practice was positive.
During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, two dental nurses including 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 Friday: from 9am to 5.30pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- Improvements were needed in relation to staff knowledge and understanding of sepsis.
- The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
- 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 took account of patients’ needs.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The provider had information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Take action to ensure all staff are aware of the risks related to sepsis, including recognition of the signs and symptoms, and know how to respond accordingly.
- Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice when completing dental care records. Particularly in respect of the British Society of Periodontology’s classification for periodontal diseases.