The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Dental Surgery

1A Spital Street, Dartford, Kent, DA1 2DJ

Provided and run by:
Ms. Deirdre Daly

All Inspections

29 October 2019

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced inspection on 29 October 2019 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 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 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 caring?

We found this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found this practice was providing responsive 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

Dental Surgery is in Dartford and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The practice is situated on the first floor of a shared building therefore there is no level access. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes a dentist, three dental nurses, and a receptionist. The practice has one treatment room.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist. 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 49 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with five other patients.

During the inspection we spoke with the dentist and two dental nurses. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday 8am to 8pm

Tuesday and Wednesday 8am to 5.30pm

Thursday 8am to 7pm

Friday 8am to 3pm

The practice is closed for lunch between 1pm to 2pm

The practice does not open on Saturdays and Sundays

Our key findings were:

  • The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
  • The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance. However, improvements could be made during the decontamination process.
  • Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
  • The provider had systems to help them manage risk 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 treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
  • Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
  • The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
  • The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
  • The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
  • 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:

  • Improve the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices, and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’, In particular; ensuring that full personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn during the whole decontamination process, such as gloves.

8 February 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke to three patients, two of which were new patients to the practice who had come upon recommendation. We saw that they were asked to complete medical histories and we observed that treatment options were explained by the receptionist to one of the patients during our visit.

We looked at four treatment record cards and saw that all had up to date medical history records and that assessments had been recorded about their gum health. We saw that appointments were made for patients after they had seen the dentist by referring to the dentist notes and that patients understood why further treatment was being suggested.

We saw that there was a clear system in place which ensured that instruments were transferred, decontaminated, examined, sterilized and stored consistently. There were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection.

We were shown certificates of training and an online system of learning which provided evidence that staff would achieve the level of training required to remain registered with the General Dental Council. We observed that staff received appropriate professional development.

We looked at patient records and saw that they were complete with medical histories and treatment plans and they described the treatment options which had been discussed with the patient. This showed that patient's personal records including medical records were accurate and fit for purpose.