Sheerness Dental Clinic

We carried out this unannounced focused inspection on 19 January 2022 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:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean, but poorly maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which did not reflect published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Not all of the medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The provider did not have systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider did not have safeguarding processes. However, staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider did not have 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.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• The provider did not have effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt unsupported but worked as a team.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.

Background

Sheerness Dental Clinic is in Sheerness and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is a small flight of steps which does not allow 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 dentist, a dental nurse, and two receptionists. The practice has four treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with the dentist, the dental nurse, both receptionists, two practice managers from other sites and the clinical lead for Kent. 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 5pm

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

• Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.
• Maintain appropriate standards of maintenance for premises and equipment.
• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the standards of care.

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