Mydentist-Advanced Oral Health Centre-Hayle

We carried out this announced inspection on 4 September 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 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

Mydentist - Advanced Oral Health Centre - Hayle is in Hayle, Cornwall and provides mostly private, with some NHS, dental treatment to adults and children.

There is step access to the practice, which is a Grade two listed building and therefore there are restrictions on what adjustments can be made to the premises. A portable ramp is available for wheelchair users to access the building and there is one ground floor surgery. However, the building is not fully accessible to wheelchair users. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes five dentists, five dental nurses, one dental hygienist, three receptionists and a practice manager. The practice has three treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission 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 Mydentist - Advanced Oral Health Centre - Hayle is the practice manager.

On the day of inspection, we collected 13 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with three other patients. This gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, three dental nurses, the dental hygienist, one receptionist, the practice manager and the regional regulatory officer for Mydentist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday 8.30am – 5.00pm. Wednesday 8.30am – 8.00pm.

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. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• 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.
• Improvements could be made to the practice's protocols and procedures for the use of X-ray equipment.
• The provider had effective leadership and a 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 was an area where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Improve the practice's protocols and procedures for the use of X-ray equipment in compliance with The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 and Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 and taking into account the guidance for Dental Practitioners on the Safe Use of X-ray Equipment. In particular, regarding use of rectangular collimator and updating local rules.