Updated 13 June 2017
We carried out this announced inspection on 2 May 2017 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.
We told the NHS England area team and Healthwatch that we were inspecting the practice. NHS England provided some contract information about the practice.
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
Ingrid Cubbon Dental Surgery (SW) Ltd is in the coastal town of Paignton and provides NHS treatment to patients of all ages. The practice manager told us that approximately 60% of patients were aged over 50.
There are steps to the front of the building but level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs by request at the rear of the premises, or a portable ramp for use for the front steps. Car parking spaces are available in a nearby public car park or at on-road meters.
The dental team includes one dentist, two dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse, one dental hygienist, a practice manager and one receptionist. There is also a self-employed on-site dental technician. The practice has two treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by a limited company 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 Ingrid Cubbon Dental Surgery (SW) Ltd was the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection we collected 28 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with seven other patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with all the staff employed at the practice. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday to Thursday 8.30am – 6pm. Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm. The practice is closed for lunch between 1 - 2pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice was clean and well maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
- The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
- The clinical staff assessed patients’ care in line with current guidelines.
- Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
- The appointment system met patients’ needs.
- The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the practice’s protocols for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment taking into account guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society.
- Review the current staffing arrangements to ensure all dental care professionals are adequately supported by a trained member of the dental team when treating patients in a dental setting.
- Review arrangements for the storage and preparation for use of local anaesthetics.
- Review the safety and suitability of all areas of the premises and the equipment within it.
- Review the practice's protocols for completion of dental care records taking into account guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice regarding clinical examinations and record keeping.
- Review staff awareness of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and ensure all staff are aware of their responsibilities under the Act as it relates to their role.