Archived: Bridge Dental

Updated 8 October 2015

We inspected Bridge Dental on 27 August 2015. The inspection was undertaken by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist adviser. Prior to the inspection we reviewed information provided by the provider and information available on the provider’s website.

The methods used to carry out this inspection included speaking with staff including a dentist, trainee dental nurse, practice manager and receptionist, speaking with patients, reviewing documents and general observations.

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 8 October 2015

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 27 August 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

Background

Bridge Dental is located in the London Borough of Southwark and provides private dental care services to patients. The practice is open various times Monday to Saturday including some late evenings. The practice is set out over four floors and has three surgeries, a decontamination room, staff room, reception and patient waiting area. The demographics of the practice was mixed with patients from a wide range of backgrounds.

We did not receive any completed Care Quality Commission comment cards; however we were able to speak with patients during our inspection and their feedback was generally positive. They told us staff were friendly and helpful and that the treatment they received was good. They described the premises as always being clean and tidy.

Our key findings were:

• There were effective processes in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with best practice guidance.
• Patients were involved in their care planning and were enabled to make informed decisions.
• Staff were up to date with their continuing professional development requirements.
• Appropriate governance arrangements were in place to facilitate the smooth running of the service including audits being undertaken regularly.
• There was appropriate equipment available, and staff had access to emergency drugs to enable the practice to respond to medical emergencies.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review the practice policies and procedures to ensure they have up to date information and are relevant.
• Ensure that all necessary equipment, such as the illuminated magnification device used for checking instruments after cleaning is in working order.
• Ensure all staff are aware of their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 as it relates to their role.
• Ensure radiograph audits are undertaken periodically