Botesdale Dental Practice

We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 7 November 2022 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 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:

• The dental clinic was visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The practice had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and staff 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.
• There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
• Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
• The dental clinic had information governance arrangements.

Background

Botesdale Dental Practice is in Botesdale, Suffolk and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children. In addition to general dentistry, the practice provides a Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and dental implant service.

There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available outside the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with additional needs. These include a fully accessible patient toilet with grab rails and an alarm cord.

The dental team includes 1 dentist, 2 dental nurses, 1 receptionist and 1 practice manager. The practice has 1 treatment room.

During the inspection we spoke with 1 dentist, 1 dental nurse and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 8.30am to 3pm.

Wednesday from 7.30am to 4pm.

Thursday from 9.30am to 4pm.

The practice had taken steps to improve environmental sustainability. For example, the practice has solar panels on the exterior of the building to generate electricity. They promote bamboo oral health products, and recycle where appropriate. The practice is in the process of building a new 2 surgery purpose built dental surgery on the same practice site, with the intention to extend the oral health services available for patients. Going forward with the new build the practice plan to use more solar panels and a heat source pump and to recycle as much as possible.

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

• Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry.
• Develop systems to ensure an effective process is established for the on-going assessment, supervision and appraisal of all staff.