Updated 7 December 2022
We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 4 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 advisor.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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:
- The dental clinic was visibly clean and well-maintained.
- Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- 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.
- 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.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- Staff and patients were asked for feedback about the services provided.
- Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
- The dental clinic had information governance arrangements.
- The practice had infection control procedures which broadly reflected published guidance.
- The practice had some systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff. Improvements were needed to ensure that a fire risk assessment was carried out by a person with the qualification, skills, competence and experience to do so.
- There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement. Improvements were needed to ensure that the practice carried out regular appraisals to identify individual development needs.
Background
The provider has 3 practices and this report is about Central Dental Care - Kenton.
Central Dental Care - Kenton is in the London Borough of Brent and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with additional needs.
The dental team includes 2 principal dentists, 2 associate dentists, 2 foundation training dentists 1 qualified dental nurse, 1 trainee dental nurse, 1 dental hygienist, and 1 receptionist. The practice has 4 treatment rooms and 2 separate decontamination rooms.
During the inspection we spoke with the 2 principal dentists, the qualified dental nurse and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm
Saturday once a month 9.30am to 1pm.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Improve the practice's risk management systems for monitoring and mitigating the various risks arising from the undertaking of the regulated activities. In particular, ensure that a fire risk assessment is carried out by a person with the qualification, skills, competence and experience to do so.
- Develop systems to ensure an effective process is established for the on-going appraisal of all staff, including the development needs of individual staff members at appropriate intervals.
- Improve the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices, and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’. In particular, ensure a mercury-free thermometer was used throughout the cleaning procedure to ensure the temperature of water was 45C or lower.