Newfield Green Dental Practice

We carried out this announced focused inspection on 14 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 asked the following 3 questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• The practice infection prevention and control procedures did not fully reflect published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available; procedures to monitor the emergency medical kit could be improved.
• Improvements to fridge temperature monitoring could be made.
• Risk management systems in relation to sharps, safety alerts and incident reporting could be improved.
• Systems to ensure staff training and appraisals were being undertaken, were not effective.
• The level of detail recorded in dental care records could be enhanced.
• Referrals to external healthcare providers were not being monitored and tracked.
• Leadership, oversight and management could be improved.
• Quality assurance audit systems were not effective.
• Systems to ensure equipment and facilities were being maintained could be improved.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
• The dental clinic had information governance arrangements.

Background

Newfield Green Dental Practice is in Sheffield and provides NHS dental care and treatment for adults and children.

Access into the practice is via 2 steps at the entrance. Car parking is available near the practice on local side roads.

The dental team includes a dentist and 3 dental nurses. The practice has 3 treatment rooms.

During the inspection we spoke with the dentist and 2 dental nurses. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm and Saturday 8am – 1pm.

We identified regulations the provider was not complying with. They must:

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care

Full details of the regulation the provider was not meeting are at the end of this report.

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

• Implement an effective system for monitoring and recording the fridge temperature to ensure that medicines and dental care products are being stored in line with the manufacturer’s guidance.
• Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the College of General Dentistry when completing dental care records.