Purlys Dental Practice

We carried out this announced inspection on 5 November 2019 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 CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five 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:

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

Purlys Dental Care is a well-established family practice that offers mostly private treatment to approximately 8 ,000 patients . It is based near Letchworth town centre. The dental team includes five d entists, eight dental nurses, two hygienist s and a practice manager.

There is ramp access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. There is on street parking directly outside the practice and in nearby public car parks .

The practice opens Monday s f ro m 8am to 5.30 p m; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays f ro m 8am to 6pm and on Fridays from 8am to 1 pm.

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 is one of the partners.

On the day of inspection, we collected 31 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with two other patients. We spoke with three dentists , two dental nurses, and the practice manager . We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

Our key findings were :

• Patients were positive about all aspects of the service the practice provided and commented positively on the treatment they received and of the staff who delivered it.

• Premises and equipment were clean and properly maintained and the practice followed national guidance for cleaning, sterilising and storing dental instruments.

• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.

• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.

• Patients’ care and treatment was provided in line with current guidelines.

• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment and were involved in making decisions about it.

• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.

• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.

• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported and valued . The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted upon.

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

• Review the practice’s system for recording, investigating and reviewing incidents or significant events with a view to preventing further occurrences and ensuring that improvements are made as a result.

• Review the practice's recruitment procedures to ensure that appropriate checks are completed prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice.

• Review the availability of an interpreter service for patients who do not speak or understand English .