Archived: Dental House

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 31 January 2017 to ask the practice the following key questions; are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

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

Dental house is located within a converted residential dwelling in the Old Swan area of Liverpool. It is currently undergoing extension and refurbishment to improve services and facilities. The ground floor comprises of a treatment room, reception area, waiting room and storage with another treatment room, decontamination room and staff facilities on the first floor.

Currently there are two small steps at the practice entrance. A ramp is available for wheelchair users. The refurbishment due to be completed in August 2017 will include permanent ramp access for wheelchair users. Car parking is available street side and in a nearby supermarket car park.

The practice provides general dental treatment to patients predominantly on an NHS basis but also patients on a private basis. The opening times are:

Monday and Wednesdays 9am - 5:30pmTuesday and Thursdays 8am - 5:30 pmFriday 8am - 4:30pm

The practice is staffed by two dentists, a dental hygienist and four dental nurses, one of whom is a trainee, a receptionist and a practice manager.

The principal dentist is the registered provider who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered providers are ‘registered persons’ who have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

We received feedback from 29 people during the inspection about the services provided. Patients were very positive about all aspects of the care and treatment. Patients commented that they found the practice excellent and that staff were professional, friendly, caring and competent. They said that they were always given helpful, honest explanations about dental treatment, and that the clinicians listened to them. Patients commented that they were treated with dignity and respect and that the practice was clean and comfortable. Patients who were nervous or anxious about visiting the dentist commented they were made to feel at ease. Treatments were described by patients as excellent and appointments were always easy to obtain, including emergency appointments.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had procedures in place to record and analyse significant events and incidents and learning from them was shared with staff.
• Safeguarding was well managed. Staff had received safeguarding training, and knew the processes to follow to raise concerns supported by appropriate policies and procedures.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and skilled staff to meet the needs of patients.
• The premises were clean, secure and well maintained. The practice was undergoing extension and refurbishment to improve services and facilities.
• Staff followed current infection control guidelines for decontaminating and sterilising instruments.
• Patients’ needs were assessed, and care and treatment were delivered, in accordance with current legislation, standards, and guidance.
• Patients received information about their care, proposed treatment, costs, benefits, and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Staff were supported to deliver effective care. There was a strong focus on, and good opportunities for training and learning.
• Patients were treated with kindness, dignity, and respect, and their confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients, and emergency appointments were available.
• Services were planned and delivered to meet the needs of patients, and reasonable adjustments were made to enable patients to receive their care and treatment.
• The practice gathered the views of patients and took their views into account.
• Staff were supervised, felt involved, and worked as a team.
• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice, and for the delivery of high quality person centred care.

Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies, and emergency medicines and equipment were available and checked for working order and expiry dates.