Archived: Harley Place Dental & Implant Service

Updated 16 November 2016

The inspection was carried out on 28 October 2016 and was led by a CQC inspector. The inspection team also included a dental specialist advisor.

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

During the inspection we spoke with the clinical dental technician, one dentist, the dental nurse and the practice manager.

We also did not have the opportunity to speak with patients as there were no patient appointments on the day of our inspection. We reviewed policies, procedures and other records relating to the management of the service.

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 16 November 2016

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 28 October 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

The practice is located within a purpose adapted property in Stanford Le Hope, Essex and offers a range of private preventative, restorative and cosmetic dental treatments to adults and children.

The practice is open between 8am and 7pm on Mondays to Fridays and between 9am and 1pm on Saturdays.

The practice employs one clinical dental technician, two dentists, two qualified dental nurses, one of whom is the practice manager.

The practice is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an organisation. The practice manager / dental nurse is the registered manager. 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.

The practice has three treatment rooms, a combined waiting room and a reception area. Decontamination takes place within a dedicated decontamination room. (Decontamination is the process by which dirty and contaminated instruments are bought from the treatment room, washed, inspected, sterilised and sealed in pouches ready for use again).

Our key findings were:

• The practice had systems in place for investigating and learning from complaints, safety incidents and accidents. Staff were aware of their responsibilities to report incidents.
• The practice was visibly clean and clutter free. Infection control practices were reviewed and audited to test their effectiveness.
• There were systems in place to help keep people safe, including safeguarding vulnerable children and adults. Staff undertook training and were aware of their roles and responsibilities.
• Risks to the health, safety and welfare of patients and staff were assessed and managed. There was a range of risk assessments and audits carried out to monitor safety and minimise risks.
• The practice referred to and used current guidance in relation to dentistry when assessing patients’ needs and delivering treatment.
• The practice medicines and equipment for use in the event of a medical emergency were in line with current guidelines and regularly checked to ensure that they were fit for use.
• Staff undertook training in respect of their roles and responsibilities within the practice.
• Patients were involved in making decisions about their care and treatments.
• The practice offered a flexible appointment service to meet the needs of patients and could normally arrange a routine appointment within a few days or emergency appointments mostly on the same day.
• Effective governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the service.
• Audits and reviews were carried out used to make improvements to the service.
• There were arrangements in place to obtain the views of patients to monitor and make improvements to the service where these were identified.