• Dentist
  • Dentist

The Corner Dental Practice

Princess Street, Immingham, South Humberside, DN40 1LR (01469) 572043

Provided and run by:
Doctor Juana Luz Rivadeneyra Auris

Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile

All Inspections

04 July 2022

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 4 July 2022 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 practice 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 usually ask five key questions, however due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to reduce time spent on site, only the following three questions were asked:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

Our findings were:

  • The dental clinic was visibly clean and well-maintained.
  • The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
  • Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies.
  • The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff. Improvements could be made to the process for managing the risks associated with sharps and hazardous substances.
  • Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
  • The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
  • The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
  • Patients were treated with dignity and respect and staff took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
  • Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
  • There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
  • Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
  • The dental clinic had information governance arrangements.

Background

The Corner Dental Practice is in Immingham and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes two dentists, two dental nurses (one of whom is a trainee), one dental hygienist, one receptionist and one cleaner. The practice has two treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, one dental nurse and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Friday from 9am to 5:30pm

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

  • Improve the practice's processes for the control of substances hazardous to health identified by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, to ensure risk assessments are undertaken.
  • Take action to ensure a cleaning schedule is implemented for environmental cleaning taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices.

17 December 2015

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 17 December 2015 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.

Background

CQC inspected the practice on 3 October 2014 and asked the registered provider to make improvements regarding requirements relating to workers, supporting workers and assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision. We checked these areas as part of this comprehensive inspection and found this had been resolved.

The Corner Dental Practice is situated in Immingham, North East Lincolnshire. It offers mainly NHS treatment to patients of all ages but also offers private dental treatments. The services include preventative advice, treatment and routine restorative dental care.

The practice has two surgeries, a decontamination room, a waiting area and a reception area. Treatment rooms, waiting rooms and an accessible toilet are on the ground and there is step free access to the premises.

There is currently one dentist, a dental hygienist, a qualified dental nurse, four trainee dental nurses and a receptionist.

The opening hours are Monday to Friday 9-00am to 5-30pm.

On the day of inspection 16 patients provided feedback. The patients were positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice. They told us they were treated with dignity and respect in a clean and hygienic environment, informed of treatment options, were able to make appointments in a timely manner and that the staff were helpful and polite.

Our key findings were:

  • The practice had systems in place to assess and manage risks to patients and staff including infection prevention and control, fire and health and safety.
  • Dental care records were detailed and showed that treatment was planned in line with current best practice guidelines.
  • Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit.
  • Staff received training appropriate to their roles.
  • Patients were treated with care, respect and dignity.
  • Patients were able to make appointments in a timely manner at a time which suited them.
  • There were clearly defined leadership roles within the practice and staff told us that they felt supported, appreciated and comfortable to raise concerns or make suggestions.

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

  • Aim to implement a system for the analysis of accidents.
  • Aim to obtain child and adult self-inflating bags for the emergency resuscitation kit.

3 October 2014

During an inspection in response to concerns

We looked at a sample of treatment records for patients treated on the morning of our visit. The records contained details of the condition of the teeth, gums and the soft tissues lining the mouth. These were carried out at each dental health assessment according to the records. This meant changes were identified and the patient was made aware of any changes.

It was clearly observed by us that clean and dirty instruments did not decontaminate each other. We asked the provider of dental services as well as a dental nurse if the dental hand pieces were sterilised between each patient and we were told that this was the case. This meant that patients can be assured that they were protected from the risk of infection.

There were ineffective recruitment and selection processes in place. Appropriate checks had not been undertaken before staff began work.

We found no evidence of a staff appraisal or supervision process. The provider told us, 'We see each other on a regular basis so we don't feel there was a need to have a formal review.' Formal supervisions and appraisals are a way of supporting staff to ensure they had the opportunity to express their views and discuss their professional development.

We found little evidence of a governance system to show that the organisation had implemented effective controls and monitor the quality of the service.

14 February 2014

During a routine inspection

Patients we spoke with confirmed they were asked for their consent before any treatment and that their treatment options were discussed with them. Patients also confirmed they received information from the dentist about choices of treatment.

Patients spoke positively about their experience of treatment. One patient told us, 'Today's experience was outstanding; it is warm and welcoming; I asked for a running commentary and the dentist gave me this. When I had the tooth extracted, I was given advice on aftercare and I am in no pain whatsoever.'

We also reviewed responses to recent surveys and comments made by patients. Typical of the responses we saw was, 'I am very satisfied with the overall service and very happy to be a patient at this practice.'

Patients' comments about cleanliness included, 'It is clean; staff have clean uniforms on,' and 'It is very clean; staff wore protective equipment and I was given safety glasses and a bib was tied.'

Patients spoke positively about staff. Typical of patient responses was, 'The staff are all friendly and helpful.' A patient commented in a recent survey, 'Reception particularly friendly and welcoming; an asset to the practice.' The patient also commented favourably on the dental practice team.

The provider told us that patient satisfaction questionnaires were undertaken quarterly and we saw the results of these. However, the surveys were undated, and not formally analysed to identify particular trends.