Updated 18 September 2017
We carried out this announced inspection on 5 September 2017 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 CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
We told the NHS England area team and Healthwatch that we were inspecting the practice. We did not receive any information of concern from them.
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.
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
Havelock Dental Practice is in Whitby and provides NHS treatment to adults and children.
There is level access at the side of the practice to access a basement surgery for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.
The dental team includes four dentists, eight dental nurses (one of which also works on reception), one dental hygienist, one dental hygienist therapist, two receptionists and a practice manager.
The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.
On the day of inspection we collected 49 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with four dentists, four dental nurses, the dental hygiene therapist, two receptionists 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 –Thursday 9am -5pm
Friday 9am – 4pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice was clean and well maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk which were not specific to the needs of the practice.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
- The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
- 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.
- The appointment system met patients’ needs.
- The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the practice’s system for recording, investigating and reviewing incidents, significant events and RIDDOR with a view to preventing further occurrences and ensuring that improvements are made as a result.
- Review the use of risk assessments to monitor and mitigate the various risks arising from undertaking of the regulated activities, including the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013 and the process of decontaminating instruments in a dental surgery.