The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Poole Orthodontics Ltd

38 Lower Blandford Road, Broadstone, BH18 8NX (01202) 612787

Provided and run by:
Poole Orthodontics Ltd

Important: We are carrying out a review of quality at Poole Orthodontics Ltd. We will publish a report when our review is complete. Find out more about our inspection reports.

All Inspections

23 January 2024

During a routine inspection

We carried out this unannounced comprehensive inspection on 23 January 2024 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 second inspector and a specialist dental advisor.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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:

  • The dental clinic appeared clean and well-maintained, however, systems to support the cleaning processes required review.
  • The practice had infection control procedures which did not always reflect published guidance.
  • Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available, but these were not always in date or stored appropriately.
  • The practice had some systems to manage risks for patients, staff, equipment and the premises. However, some identified risks required urgent review, and others were missing.
  • Staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children, but safeguarding processes were not up to date.
  • The practice did not have recruitment procedures and staff recruitment did not reflect current legislation.
  • Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
  • Patients were treated with dignity and respect. However, staff did not always take care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
  • Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
  • Improvements could be made to the appointment system to ensure that it works efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
  • Leadership at the practice required urgent review.
  • The practice did not have systems in place to obtain feedback about the services provided.
  • Improvements to the systems in place to manage complaints were underway.
  • The practice had information governance arrangements but these required review.

Background

Poole Orthodontics Ltd is in Broadstone, Poole and provides NHS and private orthodontic dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is step free access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, are available near the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with access requirements.

The dental team includes 2 orthodontists, an orthodontic therapist, 3 dental nurses, a practice manager and a receptionist. The practice has 3 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 2 orthodontists, the orthodontic therapist, 2 dental nurses, the receptionist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8:30 – 5:30pm

Tuesday and Thursday 08:30 – 7pm

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

  • Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients
  • Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care
  • Ensure persons employed in the provision of the regulated activity receive the appropriate support, training, professional development, supervision and appraisal necessary to enable them to carry out their duties
  • Ensure specified information is available regarding each person employed

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

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

  • Implement protocols for the use of closed circuit television cameras taking into account the guidelines published by the Information Commissioner's Office.
  • Improve the practice's complaint handling procedures and establish an accessible system for identifying, receiving, recording, handling and responding to complaints by service users.

7 December 2021

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out this announced inspection on 7 December 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 always ask 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 providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Poole Orthodontics Ltd is in Poole and provides NHS and private orthodontic 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, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes a consultant orthodontist, an orthodontist, a dental nurse, a trainee dental nurse, two receptionists and the 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 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 Poole Orthodontics Ltd is the principal orthodontist.

During the inspection we spoke with a consultant orthodontist, the principal orthodontist, a dental nurse, 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 8.30am to 5.30pm
  • Tuesday 8.30am to 7pm
  • Wednesday 8.30am to 5.30pm
  • Thursday 8.30am to 5.30pm
  • Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm

Our key findings were:

  • The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
  • The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance. We did find issues in relation to burs (drills), cotton wool rolls and outstanding audit actions.
  • 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. However, improvements could be made to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) file.
  • The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
  • The recording of information in relation to legionella could be improved.
  • 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.
  • Some patient care notes content could be improved in relation to guidance.
  • Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
  • The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
  • The results of audits could be improved to develop the service to patients.
  • 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 practice’s infection control procedures and protocols taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices, and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’ In particular burs (drills), cotton wool rolls and outstanding audit actions from the last infection prevention control audit.

  • Take action to implement any recommendations in the practice's Legionella risk assessment, taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices, and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.’ In particular to ensure records of checks are available for inspection.

  • Improve the practice's processes for the control and storage of substances hazardous to health identified by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, to ensure risk assessments are undertaken and the products are stored securely.

  • Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry and the British Orthodontic Society when completing dental care records.

  • Take action to ensure audits of radiography and infection prevention and control are undertaken at regular intervals to improve the quality of the service. Practice should also ensure that, where appropriate, audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.