Archived: Malherbedentalclinics Ltd Also known as Groundwell Dental Practice

Updated 18 February 2016

We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection on 2 November 2015 to follow up on the areas of breaches of regulation found at the last inspection on 1 September 2015. The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a lead inspector and a dental specialist adviser.

We reviewed the information received from the provider prior to the inspection including an action plan and evidence of actions taken to address the breaches of regulation found at the last inspection.

During our inspection, we reviewed policy documents and dental care records. We spoke with five members of staff, including the dentist, dental nurse and practice manager. We conducted a tour of the practice and looked at the storage arrangements for emergency medicines and equipment. We observed the dental nurse carrying out decontamination procedures of dental instruments and also observed staff interacting with patients in the waiting area.

Patients we spoke with were positive about the care they received from the practice. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the dental staff.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we asked the following three questions as these were there areas relevant regulations were not being met:

• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• Is it well-led?

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

Updated 18 February 2016

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 2 November 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 this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services effective?

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Background

Malherbedentalclinics Ltd is a dental practice providing private treatment and caters for both adults and children. The practice is situated in a converted residential property. The practice had two dental treatment rooms and a separate decontamination room for cleaning, sterilising and packing dental instruments and a reception and waiting area. These facilities were all on the ground floor enabling disabled access.

The practice has one dentist a part time dental hygienist and a qualified dental nurse. Supporting the dentist was a practice manager and a receptionist. The practice’s opening hours are 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday.

The provider is the registered manager. 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.

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 2 November 2015 to follow up on the breaches of regulation found at the last inspection on 1 September 2015. Following the last inspection we asked the provider to take action through Requirement and Warning Notices for the following regulations; 10 Dignity and respect; 12 Safe care and treatment; 15 Premises and equipment; 17 Good governance; 19 Fit and proper persons employed.

At this inspection we found the provider had taken action and had addressed all the areas of concern identified in the last report. We found the provider was providing the regulated activities in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Our key findings were:

• The patients we spoke with indicated patients were consistently treated with kindness and respect by staff. It was reported communication with patients and their families, access to the service and to the dentist, was good. Patients reported good access to emergency appointments which were available the same day.

• The practice was meeting the Essential Quality Requirements under HTM 01-05 (national guidance for infection prevention control in dental practices’).

• A new staff team had been employed and all demonstrated knowledge and understanding of their role and appropriate competencies to perform it.
• There was now a portable suction unit for use in the management of common medical emergencies in dental practice.
• Dental X-rays were routinely assessed for the quality of image, justified and reported upon in accordance with IR(ME)R 2000 regulations.
• There was evidence of recent clinical audit being undertaken at the dental practice.
• Appropriate recruitment processes and checks were undertaken in line with safer recruitment guidance for the protection of patients.

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

• Ensure infection control audits are completed every six months in accordance with national guidance.
• Ensure the “coning off” issues identified in the inspection are addressed as discussed.