Dental Surgery Offerton Health Centre

We carried out this announced inspection on 14 May 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

Dental Surgery – Offerton Health Centre is in Stockport, Greater Manchester and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children. The practice is located in a purpose-built facility, shared with other NHS primary care services.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including some limited spaces for blue badge holders, are available at the practice.

The dental team includes two dentists, two dental nurses, and two receptionists. The practice has two treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

On the day of inspection, we collected nine CQC comment cards filled in by patients. All feedback about the service was highly positive.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist and two dental nurses, one of whom was acting as the receptionist on the day of inspection. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open on Monday and Tuesday, from 8.30am to 12.45pm and from 1.45pm to 6pm; on Wednesday and Friday the practice opens from 8.30am to 12.30pm and from 1pm to 4pm. On Thursday the practice opens from 8.30am to 12.45pm and from 1.45pm to 5pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well organised.
• 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 practice 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 were providing preventive care and supporting 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.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.