Archived: Dental Health Centre

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 10 August 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

Dental Health Centre located in Gants Hill provides NHS and private dental treatment to patients of all ages.

Practice staffing consists of two principal dentists, two associate dentists, two hygienists, four dental nurses, one receptionist and two practice managers

The principal dentist is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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 is open Monday to Thursday 8am to 5.30 and Friday 8am to 5pm

The practice facilities include four treatment rooms, reception area, two waiting areas and a decontamination room

We reviewed 21 CQC comment cards, the practice patient satisfaction survey and the NHS Friends and Family test comment cards. Patients were positive about the service. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the staff.

Our key findings were:

• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients and waiting times were kept to a minimum.
• The practice ensured staff were trained and that they maintained the necessary skills and competence to support the needs of patients.
• There were systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. Dental instruments were cleaned and sterilised in line with current guidance.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• There were systems in place to ensure that all equipment was maintained in line with manufacturer’s guidelines.
• Conscious sedation was delivered safely in accordance with current guidelines.
• Staff had received safeguarding children and adults training and knew the processes to follow to raise any concerns. The practice had whistleblowing policies and procedure and staff were aware of these and their responsibilities to report any concerns.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• The practice had a procedure for handling and responding to complaints, which were displayed and available to patients.
• Governance systems were effective and there were a range of policies and procedures in place which underpinned the management of the practice. Clinical and non-clinical audits were carried out to monitor the quality of services.
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided and acted on this to improve its services.

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

• Review the practice’s protocols for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment taking into account guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society