Updated 2 March 2020
We carried out this announced inspection on 27 January 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
TG’s Dental Suite is in Higham Ferrers, a town in the Nene Valley in East Northamptonshire. It provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children. Services provided include general dentistry, specialist orthodontics, implants and sedation.
There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. The practice has car parking for patients who are blue badge holders. Free parking is available on side streets close to the practice.
The dental team includes seven dentists, nine dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse, two hygienists, one decontamination assistant, one head receptionist/treatment coordinator, a deputy manager and a practice manager.
The practice has five treatment rooms and a separate decontamination facility, all are on ground floor level.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC as the registered manager. Registered managers 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 registered manager at TG’s Dental Suite is the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection, we collected 27 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, the head dental nurse, the decontamination assistant, the head receptionist/treatment co-ordinator, the deputy manager 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 and Wednesday from 8.30am to 5pm, Tuesday and Thursday from 8.30am to 6pm, Friday from 8.30am to 1pm.
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.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff. We noted one area for review in relation to fixed wiring testing.
- 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 appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
- 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.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Improve the security of NHS prescription pads in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor their use.
- Take action to implement any recommendations highlighted in the practice’s five-year fixed wiring inspection.