Tulip Dental Practice

We carried out this announced inspection on 3 March 2020 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 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:

Are services safe?

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

Are services effective?

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

Are services caring?

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

Are services responsive?

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

Are services well-led?

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

Background

Tulip Dental Practice is in Spalding, a market town in the South Holland district of Lincolnshire. It provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children. Services provided include general dentistry, implants, orthodontics. The practice is a training practice for dentists new to practice (foundation dentists).

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available in the practice car park and on street within close distance.

The dental team includes six dentists, three dental nurses, three trainee dental nurses, one dental hygienist, one dental hygiene therapist and one receptionist. Trainee dental nurses also work on the reception desk when required. There is also a practice manager. The practice has four treatment rooms, all on ground floor level.

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.

On the day of inspection, we collected 43 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.

During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, two dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures, patient feedback and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday from 9am to 5pm, Tuesday from 9am to 6.30pm (or 7pm dependent on demand), Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 5pm. The practice has also opened on an as and when required basis at weekends.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly 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. We noted an exception in relation to two sizes of clear face masks which were immediately ordered on the day.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• 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 provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The practice was actively involved in the community to raise awareness of the importance of oral health. This included visits to local schools and providing free cancer screening checks for residents in care homes.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• The provider had effective leadership. The practice had a committed practice manager and staff spoke highly of the support they received from management.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.