Updated 19 September 2017
We carried out this announced inspection on 4 September 2017 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 team that we were inspecting the practice. They did not provide any information.
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
Belmont Lodge Dental Health Centre is in Maidenhead and provides NHS and Private treatment to patients of all ages.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces include space for disabled patients is available behind the practice. We spoke to the practice manager about marking out a bay specifically for disabled person’s blue badge holders. They told us they would review their arrangements.
The dental team includes the practice manager, three dentists, three dental nurses, and two receptionists. The practice treats patients for both NHS and Private treatment.
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 55 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and obtained the views of 14 other patients.
During the inspection we spoke with the practice manager, one dentist, one dental nurses and a receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and evenings by arrangement.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- 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. They should:
- Review the practice's management of fire safety taking into account current national guidelines and having regard to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
- Review the practice's recruitment policy and procedures ensure compliance with The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
- Review the staff training and development protocols and ensure an effective process is established for the on-going training of all staff.