Updated 15 October 2021
We carried out this announced inspection on 5 October 2021 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 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 three 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:
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 well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Tuesday Market Dental practice is based in Kings Lynn and provides private dental care treatment for adults. The dental team includes one dentist, one dental therapist, two dental nurses, and a receptionist. The practice has one treatment room.
There is ramp access to the premises for wheelchair users, but no accessible toilet. Parking for blue badge holders is available directly opposite the practice in a public car park.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC 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 the practice is the dentist.
The practice is open on Mondays to Fridays from 8.45am to 3pm.
During the inspection we spoke with the receptionist, the dentist and two dental nurses. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
Our key findings were:
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
- The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
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 Faculty of General Dental Practice when completing dental care records. Particularly in relation to recording risk levels of patients to caries, periodontitis and cancer, and the staging and grading of periodontal disease