Updated 21 July 2017
We carried out this announced inspection on 3 July 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.
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
Gentle Dental of Evesham is in Evesham and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.
There is level access via a side entrance and ramp into the waiting room leading to the treatment rooms and patient toilet for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. The reception area is accessed by a small step and then a further two steps into the waiting room. Car parking spaces for all patients are available directly outside the practice.
The dental team includes six dentists, three qualified dental nurses, three trainee dental nurses, two receptionists (one of which is a qualified dental nurse and the other is a translator for patients) and a practice manager who is also a qualified dental nurse, The practice has four treatment rooms.
The practice is part of a group of three practices in Worcestershire which is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist based in one other local practices. 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 seven CQC comment cards filled in by patients and patient satisfaction survey results. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, the head dental nurse, the head receptionist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday: 9am to 7.30pm
Tuesday: 9am to 7.30pm
Wednesday: 9am to 5.30pm
Thursday: 9am to 5.30pm
Friday: 9am to 5pm
Saturday: 9am to 12pm
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. 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.