TLC Dental

Updated 12 August 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the practice was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

The inspection took place on the 18 July 2016 and was undertaken by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist advisor. Prior to the inspection we reviewed information submitted by the provider.

The methods used to carry out this inspection included speaking with the principal dentist, practice manager, two dental nurses and one receptionist on the day of the inspection, reviewing documents, completed patient feedback forms and observations.

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 therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 12 August 2016

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 18 July 2016 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

TLC Dental located in Newham provides NHS and private dental treatment to patients of all ages.

Practice staffing consists of the principal dentist, four associate dentists, one oral surgeon, one dental therapist, two receptionists and the practice manager.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individualregistered persons. Registered persons 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 practice is open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm

The practice facilities include four treatment rooms, reception area, two waiting areas, two decontamination rooms, one office and a staff room/kitchen.

We reviewed 21 CQC comment cards, the practice patient satisfaction survey and the NHS Friends and Family test comment cards. Patients were positive about the service. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the staff.

Our key findings were:

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
• We found the dentists regularly assessed each patient’s gum health and took X-rays at appropriate intervals.
• Patients were involved in their care and treatment planning so they could make informed decisions.
• There were effective processes in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.
• Staff had received safeguarding children and adults training and knew the processes to follow to raise any concerns. The practice had whistleblowing policies and procedure and staff were aware of these and their responsibilities to report any concerns.
• Equipment, such as the autoclaves, fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.

• The practice had a procedure for handling and responding to complaints, which were displayed and available to patients.
• Governance systems were effective and there were a range of policies and procedures in place which underpinned the management of the practice.
• Patients had good access to appointments, including emergency appointments, which were available on the same day
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided and acted on this to improve its services.
• The practice had not ensured that appropriate medicines, in line with British National Formulary and Resuscitation Council (UK) guidance, were available to respond to a medical emergency.

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

• Review availability of medicines to manage medical emergencies giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK), and the General Dental Council (GDC) standards for the dental team.
• Review the security of prescription pads in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to monitor and track their use.