The Highgate Dental Practice

We carried out this announced inspection on 16 July 2021 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 Care Quality Commission, (CQC), inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we usually ask five key questions, however due to the ongoing pandemic and to reduce time spent on site, only the following three questions were asked:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it well-led?

These are three of the five questions that form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Highgate Dental practice is located in the London Borough of Camden and provides private treatments to patients of all ages. The practice, a Grade II listed building is fully converted to a functional dental practice over three floors. There are five surgeries, decontamination areas, reception area, large waiting room and a garden accessible by patients.

The practice is situated close to public transportation services and other local amenities. Paid on-street parking is available and includes disabled parking bays.

The dental team includes the principal dentist, a specialist orthodontist, three associates, visiting specialists in endodontics, implants, prosthodontics and periodontics, four dental hygienists, three dental nurses and three receptionists.

The practice is owned by an organisation and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC as the registered manager. Registered managers 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 registered manager at Highgate Dental Practice is the principal dentist. The provider is registered to provide the regulated activities of treatment of disease, disorder or injury, surgical procedures and diagnostic and screening procedures from one location.

The practice is open Monday- 09:00am – 5:30pm, Tuesday-Thursday- 09:00am – 7:30pm and Friday 09:00am - 5:00pm. Outside these hours, patients are advised to contact the dedicated phone number for advice and or treatment.

On the day of the inspection, we spoke with the principal dentist, one dental hygienist and one dental nurse. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

Our key findings were:

• The practice provided general and specialist dentistry to service users.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance. Additional standard operating procedures have been implemented to protect patients and staff from Coronavirus.
• Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) was in use and staff had been fit tested.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The provider had systems to help them manage most risks to patients and staff.
• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Take action to ensure a suitable fire safety risk assessment is undertaken and fire risks appropriately identified and mitigated.
• Improve and develop the practice's policies and procedures for obtaining patient consent to care and treatment to ensure they are following legislation.
• Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.