9 February 2016
During a routine inspection
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 9 February 2016 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
Highgate dental practice is located in the centre of Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire. It provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children. Parking is available locally. The practice also offers a dental care plan where patients pay a monthly subscription.
The practice currently has two principal dentists, three associate dentists, eight dental nurses (one of which is a trainee), four receptionists and a practice manager.
One surgery is located on the ground floor and a timetable is in place to help access to all patients who struggle to climb the stairs. Three surgeries are located on the first floor where the decontamination room and office is located, one surgery is located on the second floor and each floor has a separate waiting area.
The practice is open:
Monday & Wednesday 8:00– 16:45
Tuesday 08:15 – 18:15
Thursday 08:15 – 16:45
Friday 08:00 – 14:45
Saturday 09:30 – 11:30
The practice manager is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons 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 received 68 CQC comment cards providing feedback and spoke with two patients. The patients who provided feedback were positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice. They told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and were very pleased with the service. They found staff to be caring, compassionate, and friendly and described the treatment to be fantastic. Also the staff had good communication skills, were efficient and patients were treated with dignity and respect in a clean and tidy environment.
Our key findings were:
- Staff had been trained to manage medical emergencies.
- There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
- Infection prevention and control procedures were in accordance with the published guidelines.
- Patients’ care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current regulations.
- Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
- Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
- The appointment system met patients’ needs.
- The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided.
- The practice risk assessed patients individual needs through an application that collated evidence and supplied the patient with a traffic light system overview of their oral health needs.