Updated 16 October 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 9 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 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
Lees Dental Centre is in Oldham and provides NHS and private dental treatment to adults and children.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. On street parking is available near the practice.
The dental team includes two dentists, three dental nurses (one of which helps to manage the practice and two are trainees), a dental hygienist and a receptionist. The practice has two treatment rooms. One on the ground floor and one on the first floor. The team has access to a clinical lead and an administrative team leader.
The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They 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 collected 42 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.
During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, three dental nurses, the receptionist, the clinical lead and the administrative team leader. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5:30pm
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared clean, tidy 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.
- Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
- Staff participated in local and national oral health campaigns in supporting patients to live healthier lives. They 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 clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice when completing dental care records.
- Review audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.