A.G.Smiles Dentistry & Aesthetics

We carried out this announced inspection on 7 November 2019 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

Carlisle Parade Dental Practice is in Hastings and provides private dental treatment to patients of all ages and NHS dental treatment to children.

The practice is accessed via steps. Patients requiring step-free access are advised of other local practices offering this. Car parking spaces for blue badge holders, are available outside of the practice which is within walking distance of local car parks.

The dental team includes the principal dentist, one dental nurse, one dental hygienist and one receptionist. The practice has three treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a partnership 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 Carlisle Parade Dental Practice is the principal dentist. The partnership had taken ownership of the practice eight months prior to the inspection.

On the day of inspection, we collected 33 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with two other patients.

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

The practice is open:

• Tuesday and Friday 9am to 5pm
• Wednesday and Thursday 9am to 6pm
• Saturday 10am to 2pm

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. Not all appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available on the day of the inspection, but these were delivered the following day.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff and there were systems in place to ensure that these were updated to reflect the new ownership of the practice.
• The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had thorough 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 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 culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well 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 suitable information governance arrangements.

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

• Take action to ensure the service takes into account the needs of patients with disabilities and to comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.
• Implement protocols and procedures in relation to the Accessible Information Standard to ensure that that the requirements are complied with.
• Implement an effective system of checks of medical emergency equipment and medicines taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council.