The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Park Dental Care

4 St James's Terrace, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1 6FW (0115) 910 1447

Provided and run by:
Mr. Timothy Webber

All Inspections

4 October 2023

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 4 October 2023 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 practice 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 advisor.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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:

  • The dental clinic appeared clean and well-maintained.
  • The practice infection control procedures, specifically relating to clinical waste bins and identification of waste bags did not always reflect published guidance.
  • Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Checks to confirm the availability of appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were not carried out effectively.
  • The practice had systems to manage risks for patients, staff, equipment and the premises. A fixed wire electrical safety test had not been completed within required the 5 year time scale.
  • Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
  • The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation. We found these were not always implemented consistently.
  • Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
  • Patients were treated with dignity and respect. Staff took care to protect patients’ privacy and personal information.
  • Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
  • The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
  • The frequency of appointments was agreed between the dentist and the patient, giving due regard to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
  • Staff felt involved, supported and worked as a team.
  • Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
  • Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
  • The practice had information governance arrangements.

Background

Park Dental Care is in Nottingham and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is a small step to access to the practice, a portable ramp is available for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, are available a short distance from the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with access requirements.

The dental team includes 4 dentists, 4 dental nurses, 4 trainee dental nurses, 4 dental hygienists, 1 dental therapist, 1 clinical manager and 1 office manager. The practice has 5 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 1 dentist, 3 dental nurses, the clinical manager and the office manager. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday and Tuesday from 9am to 7.30pm

Wednesday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm

Alternate Saturdays from 9am to 4.30pm

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

  • Improve the practice's waste handling protocols to ensure waste is segregated and disposed of in compliance with the relevant regulations, taking into account the guidance issued in the Health Technical Memorandum 07-01.

  • Implement an effective system of checks of medical emergency equipment and medicines taking into account the guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the General Dental Council.

  • Improve the practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure accurate, complete and detailed records are maintained for all staff.

  • Take action to ensure audits of anti-microbial prescribing are undertaken at regular intervals to improve the quality of the service. Practice should also ensure that, where appropriate, audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.

5 August 2015

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 5 August 2015 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

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

Park Dental Care is located close to the centre of Nottingham. There are good public transport links with car parking at the Broadmarsh shopping centre and nearby street parking. The bus station is also a short walk away.

The practice provides private dental services and treats both adults and children. There are three dentists, two dental therapists and three dental nurses plus one trainee dental nurse. In addition the practice has an office manager and a clinical manager (who is also a dental nurse) and a receptionist to provide support to the dental team.

The practice opening hours are: Monday: 10:30 am to 8:00 pm; Tuesday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm; Wednesday 8:30 am to 7:00 pm; Thursday 8:30 am to 6:00 pm Friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm and Saturday 8:30 am to 1:00 pm.

We viewed 27 Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards that had been completed by patients, about the services provided. All 27 comment cards had wholly positive comments about the practice and several made particular reference to the staff. Ten comment cards talked about safety, and feeling safe. Five cards described Park Dental Care as the best dental care the patients had ever received. In addition we spoke with four patients who again provided positive feedback about the practice. Comments particularly focussed on the professionalism of the staff, and how well cared for patients felt.

The principal dentist operates a satellite clinic which provides an orthodontic service from Dovebank which is located in Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Patients are self-referred and seen under private contract. The dentist provides this service at the Dovebank practice outside normal office hours for patients’ convenience. The Dovebank practice is located on the ground floor with level access.

We did not inspect the satellite clinic at Dovebank practice as part of this inspection.

Our key findings were:

  • The practice had a system for recording and analysing significant events and complaints and sharing learning with staff.
  • Staff had received safeguarding and whistle blowing training and knew the procedures to follow to raise any concerns.
  • There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet patients’ needs.
  • Staff had been trained to handle emergencies and appropriate equipment and medicines were readily available.
  • Infection control procedures were in place and the practice mostly followed national guidance.
  • Patient’s care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current legislation.
  • Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, options and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
  • Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
  • The appointment system met patients’ needs.
  • The practice was well-led and staff worked as a team.
  • Governance systems were effective and there was a range of clinical and non-clinical audits to monitor the quality of services.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

  • Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’

25 July 2013

During a routine inspection

During our visit we spoke to three patients, the provider, the practice manager, one hygienist working within the practice, a dental nurse and a reception member of staff.

Patients we spoke to were involved in their care and treatment options. Patients were happy with the care provided and thought the practice was clean and hygienic. One patient said, 'The staff are excellent. It is by far the best dental service I have received.' Another patient said, 'It is a very professional service. The staff are always friendly and helpful."

We observed members of staff interacting with patients in a courteous, polite and efficient manner. We also observed the hygienist who worked in the practice and saw that they provided information about how to maintain good oral hygiene.

We saw that the practice had implemented an infection control policy and that staff were encouraged to develop their skills and undertake appropriate training to help deliver safe and effective care to patients. One member of staff said, 'There is always an opportunity to learn new things. The cost of courses I have attended has been covered by the practice and I am given time off to attend.' Another member of staff said, 'I have a very good boss. He listens and he has been very accommodating to support me.'

We looked at information from patient feedback forms and other audits undertaken by the provider to assess the quality of the service. Patient feedback was positive and there were a number of audits undertaken by the practice to ensure an effective service was provided to patients.