Updated 10 January 2018
We carried out this announced inspection on 19 December 2017 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. A CQC inspector, who was supported by a specialist dental adviser, led the inspection.
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
Regent Dental Practice is based in Cambridge city centre and provides both NHS and private dentistry to patients of all ages. The dental team consists of two dentists, a hygienist, three dental nurses and a practice manager. An endodontist, implantologist and oral surgeon visit regularly to provide specialist treatment to patients.
The practice has three treatment rooms and is open Mondays to Thursdays from 8am to 4pm, and on Fridays from 8am to 3.30pm. There is no access for wheelchair and pushchair users.
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.
No dental clinicians were available on the day of our visit but we spoke with the practice manager, the hygienist and the receptionist. We looked at the practice’s policies and procedures, and other records about how the service was managed. We collected 17 comment cards filled in by patients prior to our inspection.
Our key findings were:
- We received many positive comments from patients about the dental care they received and the staff who delivered it.
- The practice was clean and well maintained, and had infection control procedures that reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies, although not all equipment recommended by the British National Formulary, the Resuscitation Council (UK), and the General Dental Council standards was available.
- The practice’s sharps handling procedures and protocols complied with the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.
- Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with current best practice guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and other published guidance.
- Members of the dental team were up-to-date with their continuing professional development and were supported to meet the requirements of their professional registration.
- The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should
- Review the practice’s system for the recording, investigating and reviewing incidents or significant events with a view to preventing further occurrences and, ensuring that improvements are made as a result.
- Review availability of medicines and equipment to manage medical emergencies taking into account guidelines issued by the British National Formulary, the Resuscitation Council (UK), and the General Dental Council (GDC) standards for the dental team.
- Review the practice’s responsibilities to meet the needs of people with a disability, including those with hearing difficulties and the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.