Basildon Dental Practice

Updated 23 April 2015

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the practice was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and to pilot a new inspection process being introduced by the CQC.

• This inspection was carried out on 22 January 2015 by an inspector from the Care Quality Commission.
• Prior to the inspection we reviewed information that we held about the provider and by other organisations. We also viewed information that we asked the provider to send us in advance of the inspection. This included their latest statement of purpose describing their values and their objectives. We also viewed complaints they had received in the last 12 months.

• During the inspection we spoke with two of the dentists, a dental nurse, the practice manager and a member of the reception staff. We also observed staff interaction with patients. We looked around the premises and spoke with four patients to obtain their views about the staff and the services provided. We reviewed a range of policies and procedures and other documents.

• We viewed the comments made by patients on comment cards that we left for them to complete prior to the inspection. We looked at the results of the latest patient survey carried out in May 2014.

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 therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 23 April 2015

The inspection took place on 22 January 2015 as part of our national programme of comprehensive inspections. This practice had not previously been inspected. This practice was registered in April 2014 and this was the first inspection undertaken since that date.

Basildon Dental Centre provides primary dental care mainly for NHS patients but dental treatment is available for a small number of private patients. The practice team includes three dentists, supported by a number of full and part-time dental nurses, a practice manager and two receptionists.

The practice shares the building with another dental practice, separately registered with the Care Quality Commission. This is an entirely separate entity but both practices do share the decontamination facilities. The reception desk is shared but it operated by staff from each practice. Clear signs are displayed and different uniforms worn by each practice.

Prior to our inspection we left some CQC comment cards for patients to complete about their experience of the practice. We reviewed the 48 that had been completed. Patients had made positive comments about the practice and were very satisfied with the care and treatment received from the dentists and the way they were treated by all of the staff working there. Patients we spoke with on the day of the inspection said that staff were kind and caring, explanations about care and treatment options were clearly described to them.

The practice had carried out a patient survey in May 2014. This reflected that patients thought the services provided were either good or very good and felt that the practice was clean and hygienic.

We found that the practice provided safe care and treatment that met patient’s needs. The premises, equipment and infection control procedures were effective and followed published guidance. Staff were kind and caring and the dentists and dental nurses provided effective treatment that met their needs.

We found that staff responded to patients needs and provided individualised care and clear explanations. The practice responded to the needs of patients and tailored their services accordingly. The practice was well-led with staff aware of their responsibilities and how their role linked to the vision and objectives of the practice. Staff working there felt supported and said that it was a nice place to work.