Archived: LWT Dental Care - Leppings Lane

Updated 20 October 2016

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 registered provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

The inspection was carried out on 13 September 2016 and was led by a CQC Inspector and a specialist advisor.

The methods that were used to collect information at the inspection included interviewing staff, observations and reviewing documents.

During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, three dental nurses/receptionist, the practice administrator from the Ecclesall road practice and the branch practice administrator. We saw policies, procedures and other records relating to the management of the service. We reviewed 26 CQC comment cards that had been completed.

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 20 October 2016

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 13 September 2016 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

LWT Dental Care is situated approximately three miles from Sheffield city centre and is a branch practice of LWT Dental Care Ecclesall Road Sheffield. The practice comprises of two treatment rooms, a small reception and waiting area, an instrument decontamination room and separate sterilisation room, a staff and administration area and has toilet facilities and limited disabled access. The practice provides NHS and private dental treatments.

The practice is visited by one associate dentist two days a week and one associate dentist who provides preventative dentistry only, visits the practice on a monthly basis. In addition there are two dental nurses one receptionist, and a practice administrator.

The practice is open:

Monday to Friday 09:00 – 17:30

The practice owner is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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.

On the day of inspection we received 26 CQC comment cards providing feedback. The patients who provided feedback were very positive about the care and attention to treatment they received at the practice. They told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be very pleasant and helpful, the practice had a happy environment; staff were friendly and communicated well. Patients commented they could access emergency care easily and they were treated with dignity and respect in a clean and tidy environment.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was visibly clean and uncluttered.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report it. They had very good systems in place to work closely and share information with the local safeguarding team.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to manage medical emergencies.
• Patient care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current regulations.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• There was a complaints system in place. Staff recorded complaints and cascaded learning to staff.
• The governance systems were effective and embedded.
• The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients about the services.
• There was a clear leadership structure in place and staff felt supported at all levels.