Aldershot Dental Centre

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 15 October 2021 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 asked the following three questions:

• 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:

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 well-led?

We found this practice was not providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Aldershot Dental Centre, known as Teeth for Life, is in Aldershot and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The practice is based in the first floor of a converted church. The practice is accessed by a patient lift. Currently Covid 19 has restricted use of the lift. Patients affected by this barrier are directed to a wheelchair accessible sister practice nearby. Car parking, including dedicated parking for disabled people, is available near the practice.

The dental team includes seven dentists, eight dental nurses, one dental hygienist, three receptionists, one administrator and a practice manager. The practice has six 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 the practice is the practice manager.

On the day of inspection, the hygienist was the only clinician working.

During the inspection we spoke with two dental nurses, one dental hygienist, two receptionists and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

• Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance, but improvements were needed.
• 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, but improvements were needed. Specifically record keeping, fire safety and COSHH.
• 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.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• Improvements were needed to auditing processes. Specifically, infection control, antibiotics, patient care records and emergency medicines and equipment.
  
  

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

Full details of the regulations the provider was not meeting is at the end of this report.

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

• Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.

The registered manager accepted the clinical and managerial shortfalls that we raised and took immediate action the day of our inspection to begin to address these.

Where evidence is sent that shows the relevant issues have been acted on, we have stated this in our report but we cannot say that the practice is compliant for that key question as this would not be an accurate reflection of what was found on the day of our inspection.