R A Arrowsmith Dental Practice - Stourport-on-Severn

We carried out this announced inspection on 10 July 2019 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

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 form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

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

R A Arrowsmith Dental Practice is in Stourport-on-Severn and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including one for blue badge holders, are available in the practice car park.

The dental team includes four dentists including a foundation dentist, seven dental nurses including one apprentice dental nurse, three receptionists and one administration assistant. The practice has three treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They 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 collected 49 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with two patients.

During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, two dental nurses and the administration assistant. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday from 9am to 5pm.

Tuesday from 9am to 5pm.

Wednesday from 8.30am to 5pm.

Thursday from 9am to 5pm.

Friday from 8.30am to 4pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff. The provider did not provide a five-year fixed electrical wire test certificate. This was scheduled for completion following our inspection.
• The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• Staff provided preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs. Patients could access routine treatment and urgent and emergency care when required.
• The provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Review the security of NHS prescription pads in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor their use.

• Review the practice's systems for checking and monitoring premises maintenance taking into account relevant guidance and ensure that all services are well maintained. In particular, ensuring that five-year fixed electrical wire testing is completed within relevant timeframes.
• Review the practice’s protocols to ensure audit of infection prevention and control are undertaken at six monthly intervals to improve the quality of the service.