Updated 30 January 2017
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 8th December 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 is well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Burneston House Dental Surgery is a dental practice providing private and NHS treatment for both adults and children. The practice is based in Guilford, Surrey. The practice has three dental treatment rooms. There is a separate decontamination facility used for cleaning, sterilising and packing dental instruments. The practice lower floor is accessible to wheelchair users, prams and patients with limited mobility. The practice employs two dentists, one hygienist, five dental nurses and one receptionist. The practice’s opening hours are Monday and Thursday 8.15am to 5.00pm, Friday 8.15 to 16.00. The surgery is closed from 12.30 to 13.30 each day for lunch.
There are arrangements to ensure patients receive urgent dental assistance when the practice is closed. This is provided by a local group of dentists who cover for each other.
The practice is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as a partnership, Dr Anne Lane, Dr Christian Metzner. 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.
Dr. Christian Metzner is also 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.
We obtained the views of 50 patients from comment cards and direct feedback from one patient on the day of our inspection.
Our key findings were:
• We found that the practice ethos was to provide patient centred dental care in a relaxed and friendly environment.
• Leadership was provided by the principle dentist who was the practice owner.
• Staff had been trained to handle emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment was readily available in accordance with current guidelines.
• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was well maintained.
• Infection control procedures were of a high standard and the practice followed published guidance.
• The practice owner acted as the safeguarding lead with effective processes for safeguarding adults and children living in vulnerable circumstances.
• There was a process for the reporting and shared learning when untoward incidents occurred in the practice.
• Dentists provided dental care in accordance with current professional and National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
• The service was aware of the needs of the local population and took these into account in how the practice was run.
• Patients could access treatment and urgent and emergency care when required.
• Staff received some training appropriate to their roles and were supported in their continued professional development (CPD) by the practice owner.
• Staff we spoke with felt very well supported by the practice owner and were committed to providing a quality service to their patients.
•Feedback from 50 completed Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards gave us a positive picture of a friendly, caring, professional and high quality service.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:
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Adhere to the practice's recruitment policy so that records are in line with Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, specifically by undertaking and recording all of the requirements in respect of employment at the practice.
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Review the practice’s safeguarding training; ensuring all staff receive Level 2 verifiable continuing professional development in adult and child safeguarding matters.
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The practice should develop a poster or leaflet to inform patients how to make a complaint if necessary follow the already in place policy.
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The practice should either put out the poster they already had regarding the NHS fees or develop a leaflet that they can hand to NHS patients.