I-Teeth Dental Care

Updated 3 February 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the practice was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008

The inspection was carried out on 18 January 2017 by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser. Prior to the inspection, we asked the practice to send us some information which we reviewed. This included the complaints they had received in the last 12 months, their latest statement of purpose, and the details of their staff members including proof of registration with their professional bodies.

During the inspection, we spoke with the principal dentist, a dentist on duty, the dental nurse and receptionist and reviewed policies, procedures and other documents. We also obtained the views of two patients following the day of our visit. We reviewed 35 comment cards that we had left prior to the inspection, for patients to complete, about the services provided at the practice. Nine patients shared their experiences with us via our online share your experience forms.

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 therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 3 February 2017

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 18 January 2017 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

I – Teeth Dental Care is located in Tunbridge Wells, Kent and offers private general dentistry services to patients. The practice has two dentists and the services of three hygienists who are supported by one dental nurse and one receptionist. The practice has two treatment rooms, both of which are on the ground floor. The practice also has a reception and waiting area, and staff facilities.

The practice is open: Monday 8.15am to 5.15pm. Tuesday 8.15pm to 7.15pm. Wednesday 8.45 to 7.15pm. Thursdays 8.15pm to 4.15pm. Fridays 8.15am to 1.45pm and Saturdays 8.45am to 4.45pm

The principal dentist is the registered provider. A registered provider is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

On the day of inspection we received 35 CQC comment cards providing feedback and spoke with two patients following our inspection. We also received nine share your experience forms through the CQC website prior to our inspection. The patients who provided feedback were very positive about the care and attention to treatment they received at the practice. They told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be excellent, great at responding to pain requirements, helpful and they were treated with dignity and respect in a clean and tidy environment.

Our key findings were:

• Patient care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current regulations.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were consistently involved in making decisions about it.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs. Appointments were easy to book and emergency slots were available each day for patients requiring urgent treatment.
• There was a complaints system. Staff recorded complaints and cascaded learning to staff.
• The governance systems were effective.
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided.
• We found that the practice ethos was to provide patient centred dental care in a relaxed and friendly environment.
• Strong and effective leadership was provided by the principal dentist.
• Infection control procedures were robust and carried out in accordance with current guidance
• The practice was clean and very well maintained.