Updated 5 December 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 12 November 2019 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.
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
Oxford House Dental Practice is in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.
The practice is located in a detached two storey building. There is a ramp into the building and there are ground floor treatment rooms for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. The practice has a large private car park.
The dental team includes six dentists, four specialist dentists, four dental hygienists, six dental nurses, four trainee dental nurses and a clinical dental technician. The clinical team is supported by a practice manager, three receptionists and a cleaner.
The practice is owned by a partnership and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run. The registered manager at Oxford House Dental Practice is one of the partners.
On the day of inspection, we received feedback from 56 patients. We also received 17 comments about the service via the CQC website.
During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager, three dentists, four dental nurses and one receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8am to 5.30pm, and Wednesday from 8am to 6pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider 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.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- The provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team. Staff spoke openly about how much they enjoyed working at the practice.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.