The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Archived: Dentalcare Brackley

2 Bridge Street, Brackley, Northamptonshire, NN13 7EP

Provided and run by:
Dentalcare (Southern) Ltd

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

3 March 2023

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We undertook a follow up focused inspection of Dentalcare Brackley on 3 March 2023. This inspection was carried out to review the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.

The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental advisor.

We had previously undertaken a comprehensive inspection of Dentalcare Brackley on 26 July 2022 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We found the registered provider was not providing safe, effective or well-led care and was in breach of regulations 12 and 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for Dentalcare Brackley dental practice on our website www.cqc.org.uk.

As part of this inspection we asked:

  • Is it safe?
  • Is it effective?
  • Is it well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breaches we found at our inspection on 26 July 2022.

Are services effective?

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breaches we found at our inspection on 26 July 2022.

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breaches we found at our inspection on 26 July 2022.

Background

The provider has 14 practices and this report is about Dentalcare Brackley.

Dentalcare Brackley is in Brackley, Northamptonshire and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. A car parking space for people with disabilities can be reserved at rear of the practice. The practice has made some reasonable adjustments to support patients with additional needs.

The dental team includes 4 dentists, 3 trainee dental nurses, 1 dental hygienist, 2 receptionists and a practice manager. The practice has 4 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 2 dentists, 2 dental nurses, one receptionist 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 from 8am to 6.30pm

Tuesday from 8am to 6.30pm

Wednesday from 8am to 6.30pm

Thursday from 8am to 6.30pm

Friday from 8am to 6.30pm

Saturday from 8am to 6.30pm

26 July 2022

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 26 July 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 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 specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we usually ask five key questions, however due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to reduce time spent on site, only the following three questions were asked:

• 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 dental clinic was not clean or well-maintained.
  • The practice infection control procedures did not reflect published guidance.
  • Staff had not received training in how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were not always available.
  • The practice systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff were not robust or effective. Specifically, fire safety and legionella management.
  • Safeguarding processes were in place. Staff did not always demonstrate an understanding of their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
  • Staff recruitment procedures did not reflect current legislation.
  • Patients’ care and treatment was not always provided in line with current guidelines.
  • Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
  • The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
  • Effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement were not in place.
  • Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
  • Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.

Background

The provider has 14 practices and this report is about Dentalcare Brackley.

Dentalcare Brackley is in Brackley, Northamptonshire and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. A car parking space for people with disabilities can be reserved at rear of the practice. The practice has made some reasonable adjustments to support patients with additional needs.

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

During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, two dental nurses, two receptionists, the providers business development manager 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 to Saturday from 8am to 6.30pm.

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.

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

24 July 2017

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced inspection on 24 July 2017 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

Dentalcare Brackley is in Northamptonshire and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs and there are two treatment rooms accessible on the ground floor. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes five dentists, six dental nurses, one dental hygienist and two receptionists. The practice manager left the practice a few days prior to our inspection. The practice has four treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an organisation 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. At the time of the inspection the practice did not have a registered manager in post; although the head nurse expressed her intention to apply for the role.

On the day of inspection we collected 18 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, 2 dental nurses, one receptionist and the group compliance manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 am to 6.30 pm. On Wednesday from 8 am to 8 pm and on Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm.

Our key findings were:

  • The practice was clean and well maintained.
  • The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
  • Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
  • The practice had systems to help them manage risk. Risks associated with use of medical sharps had not been assessed.
  • The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
  • The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures. References were not always recorded.
  • 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.
  • The appointment system met patients’ needs.
  • The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
  • The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
  • The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

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

  • Review the protocols and procedures to ensure staff are up to date with their mandatory training and their Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
  • Review the practice protocols for use of medical sharps with reference to the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.