Updated 29 May 2024
We carried out this unannounced focused inspection on 9 April 2024 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 advisor.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we asked the following question:
- Is it safe?
This question formed the framework for the area we looked at during the inspection.
Our findings were:
- The dental clinic appeared clean and well-maintained.
- The provider’s infection control procedures were not operated effectively.
- The provider did not operate effective systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- Immediate improvement was needed to ensure emergency equipment was available and able to locate quickly in a medical emergency.
- The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider’s staff recruitment procedures were not operated effectively.
Background
Acorn Dental Care is in Maidenhead and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
There is step free access to the practice, at the rear of the building, for wheelchair users and those with pushchairs.
Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, are available at the rear of the practice.
The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with access requirements.
The dental team includes 2 dentists, 2 trainee dental nurses, 2 dental hygienists and 1 nurse who is also the practice administrator.
The practice has 3 treatment rooms.
During the inspection we spoke with 1 dentist, a trainee dental nurse and the practice manager.
We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
- Monday 8am – 5pm
- Tuesday 8am – 5pm
- Wednesday 8am – 5pm
- Thursday 8am – 5pm
- Friday 8am – 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:
- Take action to ensure that all clinical staff have a risk assessment carried out to identify and mitigate risks associated with clinical services during their Hepatitis B vaccination process.