Updated 13 February 2020
We carried out this announced inspection on 07 January 2020 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.
Background
The Lytham Dental Clinic is in Lytham St Annes and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
The practice is situated on the first floor of a Victorian building on the main shopping street. There is no access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. The practice will signpost an easily accessible practice to patients who cannot manage the stairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.
The dental team includes one dentist, three dental nurses of which one is a trainee, one dental hygiene therapist, a practice manager and one receptionist. There is also a visiting implantologist/dental surgeon. The practice has two treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC as the registered manager. Registered managers 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 registered manager at The Lytham Dental Clinic is the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection, we collected 10 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.
During the inspection we spoke with the dentist, three dental nurses, the dental hygiene therapist, one 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, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.00 – 5.00pm
Thursday from 11.00 – 7.00pm
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- 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:
- Take action to ensure an audit of antimicrobial prescribing is undertaken at regular intervals to improve the quality of the service.