Updated 31 May 2017
Background
Wareham Dental Surgery is in Wareham and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including all for patients with disabled badges, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes two dentists, two dental nurses, two trainee dental nurses, one dental hygienist, two receptionists and one cleaner. The practice has 4 treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by a principal dentist 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 Wareham Dental Surgery was the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection we collected 77 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with three other patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses and one receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: 8:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday and at other times by arrangement.
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 available.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
- The practice 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 appointment system met patients’ needs.
- The practice had effective leadership. 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 dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
We identified an area of notable practice:
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We noted that small signs or ‘check lists’ were displayed at each ‘work station’ of the decontamination process. These permanently displayed ‘check list’ signs gave information as to what was required at each stage of the decontamination process and the quality expected, before moving an item of medical equipment onto the next decontamination stage.
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This was deemed notable practice, as it showed a deep commitment to the overall wellbeing of the people who use the service.