Archived: South Cliff Dental Care

Are services safe?

We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Southcliff Dental Care is in Eastbourne and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs via the rear of the building. Car parking spaces, including some for blue badge holders, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes four dentists, three dental hygienists, three dental nurses, three trainee dental nurses and two receptionists. The practice has two treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a partnership 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 Southcliff Dental Care was the principal dentist.

On this occasion we did not collect CQC comment cards as this was an unannounced inspection. However we spoke with two patients during our inspection.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses, one receptionist and the practice operations manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

• Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturdays 9am –5pm.
• Tuesdays 9am – 9.30pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared 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 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.
• The practice was providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The practice had suitable information governance arrangements.