Updated 14 January 2019
We carried out this unannounced inspection on 15 November 2018 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 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 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.
Background
Woodbridge Hill Dental Practice is in Guildford, Surrey and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.
The practice is located on a first floor premises. Car parking spaces, including those for blue badge holders are on site.
The dental team includes the principal dentist, five associate dentists, two dental hygienists, one dental nurse, three trainee dental nurses and two receptionists. The practice has four treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, one dental nurse, two trainee dental nurses and two receptionists. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
- Monday to Saturday from 8am to 6pm
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared 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.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had 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.
- Staff were providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- The principal dentist was responsible for clinical and managerial leadership.
- The provider asked patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider had a system of dealing with complaints.
- The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure accurate, complete and detailed records are maintained for all staff.
- Review the practice's policy for the control and storage of substances hazardous to health identified by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, to ensure risk assessments are undertaken and the products are stored securely.
- Review the practice's protocol and staff awareness of their responsibilities in relation to the Duty of Candour to ensure compliance with The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
- Review the practice’s sharps procedures to ensure the practice is in compliance with the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.
- Review the practice's current performance review systems and have an effective process established for the on-going assessment and supervision of all staff.