Archived: Holloway Dental Centre

Updated 3 March 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the practice was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection on 20 January 2016. The inspection took place over one day. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector. They were accompanied by a dental specialist advisor.

During our inspection visit, we reviewed policy documents. We spoke with eight members of staff, including the management team. We conducted a tour of the practice and looked at the storage arrangements for emergency medicines and equipment. We observed a dental nurse carrying out decontamination procedures of dental instruments and also observed staff interacting with patients in the reception area.

We received feedback from 22 patients. Patients were positive about the care they received from the practice. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the dental staff.

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 therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 3 March 2016

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 20 January 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Holloway Dental Centre is located in the London Borough of Islington. The practice is on the second floor and comprises of five surgeries and a decontamination room. There is also a reception and waiting area. Toilet facilities and a staff area where also available.

The practice provides NHS and private dental services and treats both adults and children. The practice offers a range of dental services including routine examinations and treatment.

The staff structure of the practice comprises of a principal dentist, five associate dentists, one dentist with practice limited to orthodontics, five dental nurses, two receptionists, a hygienist and practice manager. The practice was open Monday to Friday from 9am-5.30pm and alternate Saturdays from 9am-2.30pm.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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.

The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist advisor.

We received feedback from 22 patients. The feedback from the patients was positive in relation to the care they received from the practice. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the staff.

Our key findings were:

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with best practice guidance, such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
• The practice had systems in place to minimise the risks associated with providing dental services.
• The practice had policies and procedures in place for child protection and safeguarding adults.
• Equipment, such as the air compressor, autoclave (steriliser), and dental chair had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.
• There were systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection.
• Patients indicated that they felt they were listened to and that they received good care from a helpful and patient practice team.
• There were arrangements in place to deal with foreseeable emergencies
• There was a complaints procedure available for patients.
• The practice had a clear management structure and governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review its audit protocol for X-rays. Practice should ensure all audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.
• Review the practice’s arrangements for sharing and learning from safety alerts.
• Review the practice's recruitment policy and procedures in line with Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 to ensure necessary employment checks are in place for all staff and the required specified information in respect of persons employed by the practice is held.
• Review availability of equipment to manage medical emergencies giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK), and the General Dental Council (GDC) standards for the dental team.
• Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’ especially in regard to use of saline during oral surgery.