The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Archived: Dr Andre Louw - Bridgwater Also known as Taunton Road Dental Practice

14 King Street, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 3ND (01278) 458004

Provided and run by:
Dr. Andre Louw

Important: This service was previously registered at a different address - see old profile

All Inspections

28 July 2015

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 28 July 2015 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

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.

Taunton Road Dental Practice provides general NHS dentistry and some private dental services to people living in Bridgewater and the surrounding areas. The practice has about 6000 patients from a wide catchment area surrounding Bridgewater with some patients travelling long distances to attend appointments. There is easy access into the practice with parking outside and close by. The dental treatment and hygienist rooms are on the first and second floors and there is a separate decontamination room on the ground floor.

The practice has four treatment rooms with five dentists including a foundation dentist; four dental nurses and a trainee dental nurse and a dental hygienist who works part-time. The dental teams were supported by two part time practice managers and two receptionists. The practice is open from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm Monday to Friday. The practice have their own website which provides information about the opening times and services they provide.

The main dentist is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

Eight patients provided feedback about the service during our inspection. We also received comment cards from 48 patients. The patients we spoke with and the comments we received were very positive about the treatment patients received and about the caring nature of all the staff in the practice. Patients stated they felt the dentists took time to explain the required treatment and explained their options in a way they understood. Common themes were that patients felt they received excellent treatment and were provided with personal and professional services.

Our key findings were:

  • The practice had systems and processes in place which ensured patients were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.
  • Patients’ care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes, promoted a good quality of life and was based on the best available evidence.
  • Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
  • Services were organised so that they meet patients’ needs.
  • The leadership, management and governance of the organisation assured the delivery of high-quality, patient centred treatment and care, supported learning and innovation, and promoted an open and fair culture.

4, 18 March 2014

During a routine inspection

This inspection was conducted over two dates. The information gathered on our first visit was used as part of the process to assess the application the provider made to register this new location in King Street, Bridgewater. We met with six people who attended the practice during each of our visits. Those who were used to the other premises said that it was not an inconvenience to them to be visiting the temporary premises. People told us how they had been recommended to use the practice. They described the staff as 'very nice', 'very friendly' and 'excellent'. One person said they appreciated being able to see the same dentist for each appointment.

We met with the principal dentist and associates, practice manager, their deputy and dental nurses. We also met with the provider's area manager. The principal dentist said they were 'very happy with the staff team' and referred to them 'working together'. We met the other dentists. They described the staff they worked with as an 'amazing team' and 'the best team I have ever worked with'. One of them told us it was 'a very nice practice' and another said 'I love working here'. They told us there was 'excellent good quality stock and everything you need to provide good treatment'.

We found that people were provided with information and made decisions about their care and treatment. There were records maintained of when people had appointments for checks or treatment. Arrangements were in place to keep people safe and to report any concerns about their well-being. The practice was clean and hygienic and this view was shared by people we met. The recruitment of staff ensured people's safety and staff felt supported. The quality of service was monitored and complaints were treated seriously.