The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Archived: Bupa - Church Road, Lytham

13 Church Road, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, FY8 5LH (01253) 733601

Provided and run by:
Windmill Dental Surgery Limited

All Inspections

25 June 2015

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 25 June 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

Windmill Dental Surgery is part of Brand Oasis Dental Care, a national organisation which operates dental practices across the United Kingdom. The practice offers both NHS (approximately 70%) and private dental care services to patients of all ages. The services provided include preventative advice and treatment and routine and restorative dental care. One of the dentists carries out dental implants. The practice has four treatment rooms and a decontamination room. The waiting room and one of the treatment rooms are on the ground floor of the premises.

The practice has four dentists, a part-time dental hygienist/therapist, five dental nurses and a dental nurse trainee; in addition to a practice manager, practice co-ordinator and reception staff. The practice manager is the registered manager and is also responsible for one other practice. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

The practice is open Monday and Thursday from 8.30am to 7pm, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8.30am to 5pm and on Friday from 8.30am to 4pm.

16 patients provided feedback to us about the service. Patients we spoke with and who completed CQC comment cards were positive about the care they received from the practice.

Our key findings were:

  • The practice had systems to assess and manage risks to patients, including for infection prevention and control, health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.
  • There were systems in place to check all equipment had been serviced regularly
  • The practice carried out oral health assessments and planned treatment in line with current best practice guidance
  • We reviewed 16 comment cards that had been completed by patients. Common themes were patients felt they were listened to and received good care in a clean environment from a helpful practice team.
  • The practice had an efficient appointment system in place to respond to patients’ needs
  • There were clearly defined leadership roles within the practice and staff told us they felt well supported and comfortable to raise concerns or make suggestions.
  • Governance systems were effective and there was a range of clinical and non-clinical audits undertaken to monitor the quality of the service.

During a check to make sure that the improvements required had been made

We found at the last inspection on the 21/01/2013 staff did not receive regular formal supervision support. This was in contravention of Regulation 23 HSCA 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010. However information received from the manager confirmed this had now been addressed and they were compliant with the regulation..

We received an action plan from the registered manager which detailed the policy and procedure to address the minor concerns, in relation to formal supervision of staff. Staff will now receive formal structured supervision sessions at least six times a year and annual appraisals to discuss personal development and develop skills within their work role.

21 January 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with a dentist, practice manager, staff and patients waiting for treatment. We also spoke with people who had just received treatment from the dentist. This helped us to gain an overview of what people experienced at Windmill Dental Surgery.

Comments we received from patients were positive about the way they were treated by staff. They were satisfied with the care and support shown to them during the course of their treatment. People told us they found the dentist and staff approachable and polite and felt relaxed when visiting the surgery.

None of the people we spoke with had any concerns about the standard of treatment they were receiving. They told us they would be comfortable in raising any issues or concerns they may have.

Patients told us they were consulted throughout the treatment stages and all options were discussed with them. Patients confirmed they gave their consent to any treatment undertaken by the dentist. Comments from patients included,

'Always polite when you come into, reception staff are pleasant and patient.'

'I have had a lot of problems with my teeth and visit here quite a lot. The dentist and nurses are always supportive. From the start they have kept me informed of all the treatment I was to receive. I signed the agreement to treatments.'

'The place is always clean and hygienic every time I have been here.'