Archived: Walton Road Dental Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 16 June 2015. The practice has two dentists supported by two associate dentists. There is a hygienist, five dental nurses, and one receptionist. The practice provides primary dental services to both NHS and private patients. The practice is open Monday 9am – 5pm (alternate Mondays until 6pm), Tuesday 8.30am – 4.30pm. Wednesday and Thursday 9am – 5pm, Friday 8.30am – 1.30pm.

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.

We viewed 53 CQC comment cards that had been left for patients to complete, prior to our visit, about the services provided. All of the comment cards reflected positive comments about the staff and the services provided. Patients commented that the practice was clean and hygienic; they found the staff very friendly, approachable and caring. They had trust and confidence in the dental treatments and said explanations were clear anmd understandable. Emergency appointments were available on the same day and appointments were usually on time.

The practice was providing care which was safe, effective, caring and responsive in accordance with the relevant regulations. However we found that this practice was not providing well led care in accordance with the relevant regulations and improvements were needed.

Our key findings were:

• The practice recorded and analysed significant events and complaints and cascaded learning to staff.
• Staff had received safeguarding training and knew the processes to follow to raise any concerns.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies and appropriate medicines and emergency equipment were readily available.
• Infection control procedures were in place and the practice followed published guidance.
• Patient’s care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current legislation.
• 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.

• The appointment system met the needs of patients and waiting times were kept to a minimum.
• The practice staff felt involved and worked as a team.

• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided.

We identified a regulation that was not being met and the provider must:

• Ensure its recruitment policy and procedures are suitable and recruitment arrangements are in line with Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 to ensure necessary employment checks are in place for all staff and the required specified information in respect of persons employed by the practice is held.

You can see full details of the regulation not being met at the end of this report.

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

• Ensure that national patient safety and other relevant alerts and guidance is followed and actions taken recorded.
• Improve audits to ensure audit cycles are complete and demonstrate improvements and increase the range of audits undertaken to cover both clinical and non-clinical areas.
• Ensure policies are localised and dated to demonstrate when they were compiled and next due for review.
• Ensure patient feedback such as from the friends and family test, is collated, recorded and acted upon where appropriate.
• Ensure portable appliance testing (PAT) is carried out in accordance with health and safety guidance.