Truro Dental Care

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 27 November 2023 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 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:

• The dental clinic appeared clean.
• 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.
• Patient feedback was positive.
• The practice had information governance arrangements.
• The practice had infection control procedures, but they were not consistently followed.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. However, the automated external defibrillator was not working at the time of the inspection visit.
• The practice had systems to manage risks for patients, staff, equipment and the premises but improvements are required.
• There had not been recent staff meetings and communication across the staff team was not always effective.

Background

Truro Dental Care is in Truro and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children. The practice is owned by a partnership of three dentists.

The practice building is grade 2 listed and the permitted ability to make changes to provide step free access is not available to the providers.

Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes 3 dentists, 2 dental hygienists, 4 dental nurses and 1 receptionist. The practice has 4 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 3 dentists, 1 dental hygienist, 3 dental nurses, 1 receptionist and 1 locum receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday to Thursday 8.30am – 5.30pm. Fridays 9.00am – 12.30pm.

We identified a regulation the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

Full details of the regulation the provider is not meeting are at the end of this report.

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

• Take action to ensure the suitability of the premises and ensure all areas are fit for the purpose for which they are being used. In particular, with respect to external repairs.
• Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines, taking into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry.
• Improve and develop staff awareness of autism and learning disabilities and ensure all staff receive appropriate training in this.
• Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry when completing dental care records. In particular, with regard to periodontal charting.
• Improve the practice's complaints handling procedures by maintaining a record demonstrating when concerns were resolved.