Archived: Dental Surgery

Updated 19 November 2015

The inspection took place on the 23 September and was undertaken by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist adviser. Prior to the inspection we reviewed information submitted by the provider and information available on the provider’s website and NHS Choices.

We also informed the NHS England area team that we were inspecting the practice; however we did not receive any information of concern from them.

The methods used to carry out this inspection included speaking with the dentist, the dental nurse, reception staff, practice manager and patients on the day of the inspection, reviewing CQC comment cards, reviewing documents and 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 19 November 2015

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 23 September2015 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

Dental Surgery is located in the London Borough of Croydon and provides mainly NHS and private dental to patients. The demographics of the practice was mixed, serving patients from a range of social and ethnic backgrounds. The practice is open Monday to Fridays. The practice facilities include two consultation rooms, reception and waiting area, and an administration area. The premises are fully wheelchair accessible.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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 received feedback from 50 patients. This included speaking with patients on the day of the inspection and receiving completed CQC comment cards. Patients’ feedback was positive and they described the service as excellent and fantastic and said the staff were professional and friendly. Patients’ also commented that they were happy with the physical environment of the practice.

Our key findings were:

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance.
• Patients were involved in their care and treatment planning so they could make informed decisions.
• There were effective processes in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.
• There was appropriate equipment and access to emergency drugs to enable the practice to respond to medical emergencies. Staff knew where equipment was stored.
• All clinical staff were up to date with their continuing professional development.
• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was maintained appropriately.
• Appropriate governance arrangements were in place to facilitate the smooth running of the service.