The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Archived: Cornerhouse Dental Practice - Ashford

2 School Road, Ashford, Middlesex, TW15 2BW (01784) 253140

Provided and run by:
Cornerhouse Dental Practice Ltd

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

20 December 2022

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We undertook a follow up desk-based inspection of Cornerhouse Dental Practice – Ashford on 20 December 2022. This inspection was carried out to review in detail the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.

The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who had remote access to a specialist dental adviser.

We undertook a comprehensive inspection of Cornerhouse Dental Practice – Ashford on 16 August 2022 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We found the registered provider was not providing well led care and was in breach of regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for Cornerhouse Dental Practice – Ashford dental practice on our website www.cqc.org.uk.

When 1 or more of the 5 questions are not met we require the service to make improvements and send us an action plan. We then inspect again after a reasonable interval, focusing on the area where improvement was required.

As part of this inspection we asked:

• Is it well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services well-led?

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

The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on 16 August 2022.

Background

Cornerhouse Dental Practice - Ashford is in Ashford in Surrey and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is ramped access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice and the practice is located closed to transport links.

The dental team includes 2 dentists, 2 dental nurses, 1 of whom is a trainee, a dental nurse/practice manager and 2 receptionists. The practice has 2 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5pm.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

  • Develop systems to ensure an effective process is established for the on-going assessment, supervision and appraisal of all staff. Including the training, learning and development needs of individual staff members at appropriate intervals.

16 August 2022

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 16 August 2022 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 practice 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.

Our findings were:

  • The dental clinic was visibly clean and well-maintained.
  • Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
  • The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
  • Patients were treated with dignity and respect and staff 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.
  • Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
  • Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
  • Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
  • The dental clinic had information governance arrangements.
  • The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance. We noted some improvements could be made to ensure all recommended routine tests were undertaken on the equipment used to decontaminate dental instruments.

Improvements were needed to ensure:

  • All important information is recorded consistently and accurately within dental care records.
  • All equipment is serviced and maintained according to manufacturers’ guidance.
  • The systems in place to help the provider manage risks to patients and staff are effective. In particular, in relation to the management of dental sharps and medicines.
  • Emergency equipment and medicines are available as described in the Resuscitation Council UK 2021 guidelines.
  • There is effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.

Background

Cornerhouse Dental Practice - Ashford is in Ashford in Surrey and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is ramped access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice and the practice is located closed to transport links.

The dental team includes two dentists, two dental nurses, one of whom is a trainee, a dental nurse/practice manager and two receptionists. The practice has two treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with the dentists, the dental nurses, the dental nurse/practice manager and a receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5pm.

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

  • Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

Full details of the regulation the provider was not meeting are at the end of this report.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

  • Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry.
  • Introduce practice protocols regarding auditing dental care records to check that necessary information is recorded.
  • Improve the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices, and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’ In particular ensuring all recommended routine tests are carried out on the equipment used for sterilising dental instruments.

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

We carried out a review in January 2014 to see if the provider had responded to the non-compliance we had identified in our inspection visit on 12 September 2013.

During our inspection in September 2013, we raised concerns about the recruitment systems the provider had in place. We had found that not all staff had references taken up or had provided full employment histories.

During this review, we reviewed staff references and full employment histories of staff that were not produced during our previous visit. We saw that the information was now in place. This meant that there were now effective recruitment procedures in place that ensured that people who were employed satisfied the requirements under schedule 3 of the Health and Social care Act 2008.

12 September 2013

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This was a follow up visit to check whether the provider had taken action that related to training and support of staff and the requirements that related to the recruitment of staff.

During this inspection we found the area where the clinical waste bin was kept had a large amount of dog faeces on the floor. This meant that there was a risk that staff were treading in this when they disposed of the clinical waste. The provider addressed this on the day on the inspection and moved the clinical waste bin to another area.

We saw that the service had a recruitment policy. We looked at staff files and found that not all of them had what was required before they started work. For example a full employment history and references.

Staff that we spoke told us that they felt supported and that their professional development was encouraged by the manager. We found that staff undertook an induction before they started work.

31 October 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This was a follow up visit on the 31st October 2012 to check whether the provider was complying with the regulations in relation to cleanliness and infection controls, assessing and monitoring the quality of the service and risks associated with unsafe or unsuitable premises.

The CQC issued warning notices on the 2nd October 2012, in relation to these areas, and told that they were required to become compliant by the 30th October 2012.

We took with us a dental advisor to this inspection so that professional clinical advice was given where necessary.

We found that the provider had introduced cleanliness and infection control systems which meant that that the service was routinely cleaned to minimise the risks of infection.

The provider had undertaken various works across the service to improve the appearance of the surgery. They had taken also taken appropriate steps to reduce the risk of an unsafe environment.

On this occasion we did not speak to any patients.

14 September 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This was a follow up visit to check whether the provider had completed the action plan submitted to CQC following their last inspection in February 2012. The action plan related to cleanliness and infection controls, administrative and training matters.

When we last visited the surgery in March 2012 the patients we spoke to had expressed satisfaction with all aspects of the service.

On this occasion we spoke to one patient using the service who told us the 'Dentist was wonderful' and found the practice to be 'Very supportive.'

9 February 2012

During a routine inspection

Patients who spoke with us indicated that they were very satisfied with the services provided at this dental practice. They felt that they had been fully informed about their treatment and care needs, had been involved at all stages of their care, and made aware of their progress.

Staff were said to be very professional in their duties and respected the dignity and rights of each person. Preferences and choices had been taken into account when planning and agreeing individual treatment.