The Dentist at Liberty Place

We carried out this announced inspection on 23 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

The Dentist at Liberty Place is in Birmingham and provides private dental treatment to adults and children.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including those for blue badge holders, are available in pay and display car parks near the practice.

The dental team includes four dentists, five visiting clinicians; including three specialist orthodontists, one specialist implant surgeon and one oral surgeon, one dental hygienist, five dental hygiene therapists, one dental hygiene therapist/orthodontic therapist, two patient care co-ordinators/receptionists (one of whom is a registered dental nurse), one treatment co-ordinator (whom is also registered dental nurse), eight dental nurses, a clinical team lead/compliance manager (whom is a registered dental nurse) and a practice manager. The practice has five treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a company 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. The registered manager at The Dentist at Liberty Place, SmileQ Limited is the principal dentist.

On the day of inspection, we collected 40 CQC comment cards filled in by patients, we also received feedback on CQC share your knowledge forms from six patients.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, three dental nurses, a dental hygiene therapist, a 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: 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am - 5.15pm Saturday.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean 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.
• 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 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 service takes into account the needs of patients with disabilities and to comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.

• Take action to ensure that all clinical staff have adequate immunity for vaccine preventable infectious diseases.

• Improve the practice's protocols for medicines management and ensure all medicines are stored and dispensed of safely and securely.