Acorn Dental Care

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 20 March 2023 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 second inspector and a specialist dental advisor.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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 appeared clean and well-maintained.
• The provider’s infection control procedures were not operated effectively.
• The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to patients’ needs.
• The provider did not operate effective systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies, but improvement was needed to ensure emergency equipment was appropriate.
• 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.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• Staff training was not monitored effectively.
• The provider did not have effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
• Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.

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 4 dentists, 4 dental nurses, 1 dental hygienist and 1 receptionist who is also the practice administrator.

The practice has 3 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with 3 dentists, 3 dental nurses and a receptionist.

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
  
• Ensure persons employed in the provision of the regulated activity receive the appropriate training necessary to enable them to carry out their duties.
  
• Ensure recruitment procedures are established and operated effectively to ensure only fit and proper persons are employed and specific information is available regarding each person employed.
  
  

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

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

• Improve systems for responding to patient safety alerts, recalls and rapid response reports issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the Central Alerting System and other relevant bodies, such as Public Health England.
  
• Implement protocols regarding the prescribing and recording of antibiotic medicines taking into account guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice in respect of antimicrobial prescribing.
  
• Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry when completing dental care records.