Updated 11 July 2017
We carried out an announced responsive follow up inspection on 23 May 2017 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services well-led?
We had undertaken an announced comprehensive inspection of this service on 5 December 2016 as part of our regulatory functions where a breach of legal requirements was found.
Our findings at this inspection were:
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Regency House Dental Practice is set in a Grade 2 listed regency town house building in central Cheltenham. There are a number of stairs to ascend outside the building with hand rails on both sides.
The practice comprises a reception area and two waiting rooms, one treatment room on the ground floor one treatment room on the first floor and one treatment room on the top floor, a toilet and office space. Parking is available nearby in public car parks. As the practice is not accessible to patients with disabilities, the provider has an arrangement with the local community dental service to see patients who cannot access the practice.
The surgery provides a full range of private dental services to patients of all ages including preventative treatments, implants and full mouth reconstructions on a private basis to adults. Fees are displayed in information leaflets available in the practice for patients and on the website.
The opening times are: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8.30am-5.15pm; Wednesday 8.30am-7.00pm; Friday 9.00 -1.00pm. The practice is closed at weekends. The Out of Hours number is available from the telephone answering service and on the practice website. The practice is staffed by three dentists; one dental therapist and one dental hygienist; two qualified dental nurses, one of which is the practice manager; three trainee dental nurses and a receptionist.
The practice is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as a limited company and the practice manager is the 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.
Patients commented staff put them at ease and listened to their concerns. They also reported they felt proposed treatments were fully explained to them so they could make an informed decision which gave them confidence in the care provided. Patients we spoke with and the comment cards reviewed corroborated these comments.
Our key findings were:
- The practice was well-led by an empowered practice manager and the principal dentist.
- The practice was clean and well maintained.
- Infection control procedures were robust and the practice followed published guidance.
- Staff had been trained to handle emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were readily available in accordance with current guidelines.
- The practice had systems in place manage risks.
- Fire management policies had been reviewed and fire risk assessments completed together with regular checks of the systems.
- There were systems in place to check all equipment had been serviced regularly, including the air compressor, autoclave, fire extinguishers, oxygen cylinder and the X-ray equipment.
- Staff understood and received safeguarding training and knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report it.
- Safe recruitment of staff was in place.
- Staff felt involved, supported and worked well as a team.
- There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff who maintained the necessary skills and competence to support the needs of patients.
- The practice had implemented a performance review system and established an effective process for the on-going assessment and supervision of all staff.
- Treatment was well planned and provided in line with current guidelines.
- Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
- The appointment system met patients’ needs.
- The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided.
- Complaints were responded to in an efficient and responsive manner.
- The storage of records relating to people employed and the management of regulated activities was in accordance with current legislation and guidance.
- The practice protocols for medicines management had been reviewed and ensured all medicines were managed and dispensed in accordance with current legislation.
- Opportunities for training and learning were available for staff and records of training were maintained.
All products identified under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 2002 Regulations had been risk assessed and stored securely.