Archived: Mereside Dental Practice

Updated 10 January 2017

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 registered provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

The inspection took place on 22 November 2016 and was led by a CQC Inspector with remote access to a dental specialist adviser.

Prior to the inspection we asked the practice to send us some information which we reviewed. This included details of complaints they had received in the last 12 months, their latest statement of purpose, and staff details, including their qualifications and professional body registration number where appropriate. We also reviewed information we held about the practice.

We informed the NHS England Cheshire and Merseyside area team that we were inspecting the practice; however we did not receive any information of concern from them.

During the inspection we spoke to the dentist and dental nurse/receptionists. We reviewed policies, protocols and other documents and observed procedures. We also reviewed CQC comment cards which we had sent prior to the inspection for patients to complete about the services provided at the practice.

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 10 January 2017

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 22 November 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

Mereside Dental Practice is located in a residential suburb close to the centre of Alsager. Parking is available on nearby streets.

The practice entrance is to the rear of the premises. Reception and the waiting room are on the first floor, accessed by a flight of stairs. There are two treatment rooms, one of which is on the ground floor. The practice is accessible to patients with disabilities, mobility difficulties, and to wheelchair users.

There are patient toilet facilities on the first floor and fully accessible toilet facilities in an adjacent ground level building shared by the practice.

The practice provides general dental treatment to patients on an NHS or privately funded basis. The opening times are Monday and Wednesday 9.00am to 5.30pm, Tuesday 9.00am to 4.20pm, Thursday 9.00am to 6.00pm, and Friday 9.00am to 4.40pm. The practice is closed for lunch between 1.00pm and 2.00pm, except for Friday when it is closed for lunch between 12.30pm and 1.30pm. The practice is staffed by a principal dentist and four dental nurse/ receptionists.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission as an individual. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered 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.

We received feedback from 39 people during the inspection about the services provided. Patients commented that they found that staff were professional, friendly, and caring. They said that they were always given good explanations about dental treatment, that treatment was of a high standard and that the dentist listened to them. Patients commented that the practice was clean and comfortable.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had procedures in place to record and analyse significant events and incidents.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, and knew the processes to follow to raise concerns.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, skilled staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies, and emergency medicines and equipment were available.
• The premises and equipment were clean, secure and well maintained.
• Staff followed current infection control guidelines for decontaminating and sterilising equipment.
• Patients’ needs were assessed, and care and treatment were delivered, in accordance with current legislation, standards, and guidance.
• Patients received information about their care, proposed treatment, costs, benefits, and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Staff were supported to deliver effective care, and opportunities for training and learning were available.
• Patients were treated with kindness, dignity, and respect, and their confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients, and emergency appointments were available.
• Services were planned and delivered to meet the needs of patients, and reasonable adjustments were made to enable patients to receive their care and treatment.
• The practice gathered the views of patients and took their views into account.
• Staff were supervised, felt involved, and worked as a team.
• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice.

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

• Review the current legionella risk assessment having due regard to the 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.