4 April 2018
During a routine inspection
We carried out this announced inspection on 4 April 2018 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.
We told the NHS England area team that we were inspecting the practice. We did not receive any information of concern from them.
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
Collegiate Dental Practice is in Cheetham Hill, Manchester and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. On street parking is available near the practice.
The dental team includes six dentists (including two foundation dentists), nine dental nurses (including two trainee dental nurses), a dental therapist who also manages the practice and two receptionists. The practice has five treatment rooms. Collegiate Dental Practice is a foundation training practice for dentists and dental therapists. Dental foundation training is a post-qualification training period, mainly in general dental practice, which UK graduates need to undertake to work in NHS practice. The practice did not currently have a foundation therapist.
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 31 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist and two foundation dentists, three dental nurses, and the dental therapist/practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open Monday to Friday 09:15 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:30
Our key findings were:
- The practice was clean and well maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Minor improvements were needed to the medicines and life-saving equipment.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
- The practice 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.
- The appointment system met patients’ needs.
- The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:
- Review the practice’s process for recording and following up on sharps injuries.
- Review the practice's waste handling protocols to ensure waste is segregated and disposed of in compliance with the relevant regulations, and taking into account the guidance issued in the Health Technical Memorandum 07-01.