Ladbroke Grove Dental Care

Updated 6 February 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the practice was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection on 20 January 2017. The inspection was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist advisor. Prior to the inspection we reviewed information submitted by the provider.

During our inspection visit, we reviewed policy documents and staff records. We spoke with six members of staff, which included two associate dentists, a dental nurse, a dental hygienist, business operations manager and the practice manager. We also spoke with the practice owners. We conducted a tour of the practice and looked at the storage arrangements for emergency medicines and equipment. We reviewed the practice’s decontamination procedures of dental instruments and also observed staff interacting with patients in the waiting area.

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 6 February 2017

Background

Ladbroke Grove Dental Care is located in the London Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. The practice provides NHS and private dental treatment to both adults and children. The premises are on the basement, ground and first floor and consist of five treatment rooms, an X-ray room, a reception area and two decontamination rooms. The practice is open Monday and Wednesday 9:00am – 7:30pm, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9:00am – 6:00pm and Saturday 9:30am – 1:30pm.

The staff consists of seven associate dentists, two dental hygienists, two dental nurses, three trainee dental nurses, a receptionist, a business operations manager and a practice manager.

The practice owners are the registered managers. 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 reviewed 21 CQC comment cards and the NHS Friends and Family test. Patients were positive about the service. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the staff.

The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist advisor.

Our key findings were:

• There were appropriate equipment and access to emergency drugs to enable the practice to respond to medical emergencies. Staff knew where equipment was stored.
• We found the dentists regularly assessed each patient’s gum health and took X-rays at appropriate intervals.
• 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.
• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and child protection.
• Equipment, such as the autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• The practice had implemented clear procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.
• Patients indicated that they found the team to be efficient, professional, caring and reassuring.
• Patients had good access to appointments, including emergency appointments, which were available on the same day.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
• Leadership structures were clear and there were processes in place for dissemination of information and feedback to staff.