Sidcup Dental Spa

We carried out this announced focused comprehensive inspection on 23 March 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 appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• Improvements were required to information governance arrangements.
• The practice had infection control procedures which broadly reflected published guidance. Improvements were required with regards to checks to sterilisation equipment.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available. Improvements were required with regards to staff training for medical emergencies
• Improvements were required with regards to the systems in place to help the practice manage risks to patients and staff.

Background

Sidcup Dental Spa is in the London borough of Bexley and provides 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. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes a principal dentist, a dental nurse and a trainee dental nurse. The practice has two treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, the dental nurse and the trainee dental nurse. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday and Wednesday 9.00am to 6.00pm

Tuesday and Thursday 9.00am to 8.00pm

Friday and Saturdays 9.00am to 1.00pm

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with:

Systems or processes must be established and operated effectively to ensure compliance with the requirements of the fundamental standards as set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

Full details of the regulation the provider was 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 College of General Dentistry.